Pakistani Hockey (Figure Agency) Pakistani return to the highest level of international hockey hangs in balance because the financial restrictions threaten the team’s participation in 2025-26 FIH for League. The triple Olympic champions have recently been invited to join the upcoming League season after New Zealand, who gained direct qualification, won from the 2024-25 Fih nations. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) issued a formal invitation on Wednesday and provided Pakistan on August 12 to confirm its participation. This opportunity is a potential return for the once dominant Pakistani party that missed the last three Olympic Games and the World Championship. The League League, scheduled since December 2025 and June 2026, contains top teams such as India, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina, England and Spain. However, the Pakistani hockey federation (PHF) faces the main obstacle – a serious financial crisis. The Federation with a cash reduction turned to the Pakistani Sports Council (PSB) and demanded the release of 700 million Pakistani Rupees (approximately $ 2.5 million) to finance the entire team campaign. At a recent annual meeting of the state PSB, she explained that she was currently lacking funds to support Pakistan’s participation in Pro League. The Council also asked the PHF to submit detailed financial records of the received funds from last year and refuse to cover the daily and travel contributions for players and officials who participated in the Nations Cup.
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Pakistan lost in New Zealand in the final of the Nations Cup, but their second place gave them a way to League after New Zealand withdrew. “But whether it will be possible, it must be considered that PSB will send a summary to the Prime Minister for allocating special funds to allow the PHF to send the team to the Pro League,” PSB said, as the PTI quoted. He also said that Prime Minister, who is the patron of the PHF, may consider changes in the management of the Federation before the approval of any special financing. “Given the failure, PSB has updated how they spent their funds published by them since last year,” the official added. The Olympic gold medalist Rasheedul Hassan, who led the campaign against the PHF, said, “Unfortunately, officials who have managed federation for many years could not maintain a clean image.”
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This is not the first time that financial problems stood by Pakistan on the global phase. During the Inauguration for the League season, the PHF confirmed participation, but later withdrew due to lack of funds. This resulted in a fine of 170,000 euros imposed by FIH. Historically, Pakistan remains the most successful hockey team in the history of Asian games with eight gold medals. They also remain the only Asian side that won the prestigious masters trophy, with triumphs coming in 1978, 1980 and 1994.
