Pakistan’s hockey team has clinched the leading position in the Asia Hockey5s World Cup Qualifiers. The final showdown against Malaysia on August 31 resulted in an electrifying 5-5 draw, solidifying their status as frontrunners in the tournament.
The Men in Green have maintained an impeccable record throughout the competition, accumulating a total of 13 points and emerging as the undisputed leaders on the points table. Following closely behind is India, boasting 12 points.
During the pivotal clash with Malaysia, Rana Abdul Waheed delivered an outstanding hat-trick, while Mohammad Murtaza and Abdul Rehman chipped in with one goal each for Pakistan.
On the Malaysian side, Din Muhammad scored a brace, and Mat Syarman, Anuwar Akhimullah, and Ishak Arif each contributed a goal to the scoreboard.
Malaysia secured the third position in the points table, with Bangladesh, Oman, and Japan closely trailing in fourth, fifth, and sixth place, respectively.
Pakistan’s dominance was evident earlier when they triumphed over arch-rivals India and Bangladesh with scores of 5-4 and 15-6, respectively.
The Pakistani team is led by head coach Olympian Wasim Feroze and managed by Major Muhammad Shahnawaz Khan.
The Elite pool comprises India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, Oman, and Bangladesh, while the Challenger pool features Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran.
After completing the pool matches, the first crossover matches will take place between the bottom two teams from the Elite pool and the top two teams from the Challenger pool.
The winners of these matches will advance to the second phase of crossover matches, where they will face off against the third and fourth-placed teams from the Elite pool.
The top two finishers from the Elite pool will square off against the victors of the second crossovers in the semi-finals. The losing semi-finalists will compete for the bronze medal.
The champions, runners-up, and the bronze medal match winners will secure qualification for the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Oman in 2024. This victory marks a significant achievement for Pakistan in their quest for glory in the world of hockey.
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