The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has announced a 20-member national squad and team management for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, which will be held in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, and Belgium from August 15 to August 30.
Having qualified for one of international hockey’s most prestigious tournaments, Pakistan will be aiming to make a strong impact on the world stage with a squad that blends experienced internationals and promising young players.
Pakistan’s 20-Member World Cup Squad
The squad selected by the PHF includes:
- Waqar
- Muhammad Abdullah
- Muhammad Sufyan Khan
- Moeen Shakeel
- Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana
- Abdul Hanan Shahid
- Zakaria Hayat
- Arshad Liaqat
- Adeel Latif
- Ahmad Nadeem
- Ghazanfar Ali
- Imad Shakeel Butt
- Muhammad Hamaduddin Anjum
- Rehman Abdul
- Afraz
- Umar Mustafa
- Abu Bakar Mahmood
- Ali Raza
- Abdul Matan
- Muhammad Imad
The two goalkeepers named in the squad are Waqar and Ali Raza.
Team Management Announced
The PHF also confirmed the team’s management for the World Cup campaign.
The support staff includes:
- Team Manager: Muhammad Owais Qarni
- Head Coach: Bob Johan Veldhof (Netherlands)
- Assistant Coach: Christopher John Bowen (Great Britain)
- Assistant Coach: Adnan Zakir
- Video Technician: Ashraf Sultan
The federation hopes the experienced coaching staff will help Pakistan perform strongly against the world’s leading hockey nations.
Abu Bakar replaces Ammad Butt as Pakistan hockey captain ahead of FIH World Cup
Leadership Change Ahead of the Tournament
The World Cup squad announcement comes just over a week after the PHF made a significant leadership change by appointing Abu Bakar Mahmood as the new captain of the national men’s hockey team.
On July 29, the federation announced that the decision had been taken on the recommendation of its Professional Development Committee, ending Ammad Butt’s 14-year tenure as captain.
Despite the captaincy change, the PHF confirmed that Ammad Butt remains an important member of the national squad and will continue to contribute as one of the team’s senior players.
Pakistan Eyes Strong World Cup Campaign
The FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 will run from August 15 to August 30, featuring many of the world’s top hockey nations.
Pakistan, one of the most successful teams in hockey history, will be looking to build on its recent progress and deliver an improved performance on the global stage.
The PHF has expressed confidence that the combination of Abu Bakar Mahmood’s leadership, experienced senior players, emerging young talent, and an international coaching staff will help the Green Shirts compete strongly throughout the tournament and continue the team’s long-term development.
