Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Tuesday announced a 20-member squad for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, with the national side set to compete in the tournament to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.

The squad combines experienced internationals with a number of emerging players as Pakistan prepares for its return to hockey’s premier global event.

The selected players are Waqar, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Moin Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Abdul Hannan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Arshad Liaquat, Adil Latif, Ahmed Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Imad Shakeel Butt, Muhammad Hamaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul, Afraz, Umar Mustafa, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Ali Raza, Abdul Muttan and Muhammad Imad.

Waqar and Ali Raza have been named as the team’s goalkeepers.

The team management will be led by manager Muhammad Owais Qarni, while Dutch coach Bob Johan Velthof will serve as head coach. Christopher John Bowen of Great Britain and Adnan Zakir have been appointed assistant coaches, with Ashraf Sultan taking charge as video technician.

PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, who is also the secretary of the IPC Ministry, expressed confidence in the selected squad and support staff, urging supporters to rally behind the national team as it seeks to make a strong impression at the World Cup.

Pakistan secured qualification for the World Cup after returning to the elite level of international competition, but the team heads into the tournament under pressure following a difficult run of results in recent months.

The Green Shirts endured a disappointing FIH Pro League campaign, losing all 16 of their matches against the world’s leading teams and finished at the rock bottom. The winless performance has raised concerns over Pakistan’s competitiveness ahead of the World Cup and intensified scrutiny of the administration and governance of hockey in the country.

With the World Cup featuring the sport’s top-ranked nations, Pakistan face a daunting challenge to progress deep into the tournament. The team’s preparations and recent performances suggest its World Cup journey will be a difficult one, while its Pro League struggles have left significant question marks over the direction in which the game is being managed in Pakistan.

Pakistan Squad:

Waqar, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Moin Shakeel, Abdul Waheed Ashraf Rana, Abdul Hannan Shahid, Zikriya Hayat, Arshad Liaqat, Adeel Latif, Ahmad Nadeem, Ghazanfar Ali, Ammad Shakeel Butt, Muhammad Hammaduddin Anjum, Rehman Abdul, Afraz, Umar Mustafa, Abu Bakar Mahmood, Ali Raza, Abdul Manan and Muhammad Ammad.

Goalkeepers: Waqar and Ali Raza.

Team Management:

• Head Coach: Bob Johan Veldhof (Netherlands)
• Assistant Coach: Christopher John Bowen (Great Britain)
• Assistant Coach: Adnan Zakir
• Team Manager: Muhammad Awais Qarni
• Video Technician: Ashraf Sultan