Pakistan played their hearts out and while the title slipped away, the pride they’ve reignited is worth more than a trophy. Pakistan’s Men’s Hockey Team finished as runners-up at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2025, after a thrilling final showdown against New Zealand. The team’s journey brought immense joy to the people of Pakistan, many of whom, ironically, were perhaps unaware of the team’s participation in the tournament until they reached the final.
This runner-up finish marks a remarkable turnaround for the men in green from a devastating decline that had gripped the team since 2008. That era saw Pakistan fail to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics for the first time in history, and then even the expanded 16-team World Cup in 2023, underscoring the depths of the fall.
As the team faltered, its emotional connection with the nation also disappeared and hockey slowly faded away. Cricket filled the void, buoyed by state patronage, mass enthusiasm, and the backing of corporate sponsors. It was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for a team that had clinched four World Cups and multiple Champions Trophy and Asian Games titles and hoisted the national flag the highest from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia, dominating top teams like archrivals India and Australia.
Reports from inside Pakistan Hockey suggest that as the game declined, players were even denied daily allowances during training camps and tournaments. They enjoyed little love and support. Yet the players continued to train and persevere in near-total obscurity. Their spirit remained unbroken, and it finally started paying off. The team was runners up at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024, clinched third position at the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in China, and now, runners up again at the FIH Nations Cup in Malaysia.
This steady upward trajectory is a testament to the team’s resilience, grit, and unwavering belief, which raises hopes that the restoration of Pakistan Hockey’s lost glory is in the offing. But no team, no matter how passionate, can reach the pinnacle without the right support.
Veteran journalist Nadeem Farooq Paracha recently shared that while most Pakistani brands remain locked in the cricket bubble, it was PTCL Group that stepped up to support hockey. He also mentioned Arshad Nadeem as another example of PTCL Group’s timely and meaningful backing, long before his international prominence.
These sentiments were also echoed by President, Pakistan Hockey Federation, Mir Tariq Hussain Bugti, who thanked PTCL and Ufone 4G for standing with the team when their support was most needed. “PTCL & Ufone 4G’s continued support reflects a growing need for brands to step in where it matters,” he said. “Their long-term commitment is a quiet but powerful example of how national talent can thrive when given the chance.”
These stories underline the critical importance of both moral and financial support in helping athletes realize their potential and bring glory to the nation. While the focus on cricket is worth appreciating, Pakistan has a lot of potential in other sports that can be leveraged to compete at other global stages.
This runner-up finish indicates that it is time for Pakistan to rally behind its hockey heroes and provide them the best training and facilitation. The FIH Nations Cup 2025 final appearance is not just a match, it is a turning point for the national game. If matched with meaningful investment, visionary leadership, and national pride, it could mark the beginning of a new golden era for Pakistan hockey. The resurrection has begun, it is now up to all of us to carry it forward. Ends
