After weeks of uncertainty, Pakistan hockey has finally been handed a lifeline, with reports in local media suggesting that the men’s team will compete in the FIH Pro League 2025–26.
According to journalist Arfa Feroze Zaki, the breakthrough came after the Finance Ministry pledged Rs25 crore and sponsors chipped in an additional Rs10 crore, clearing the immediate financial roadblocks that had threatened to derail Pakistan’s participation.
Pakistan’s place in the Pro League had looked highly doubtful from the start. Despite being invited by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) after New Zealand withdrew, the cash-strapped Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) struggled to raise the funds needed for the campaign. The PHF had appealed for Rs70.30 crore from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), but the Board, already demanding clarity over the federation’s past spending, refused to release additional funds.
The impasse created fears of another embarrassment, similar to when Pakistan pulled out of the inaugural Pro League and ended up paying a fine of 170,000 euros to the FIH. After two extensions, the Finance Ministry’s intervention has reportedly ensured that the Green Shirts will not miss out this time.
The Pro League, which runs from November 2025 to June 2026, could now see Pakistan lock horns with the world’s elite sides, including Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and even India. For a side that has missed the last three Olympics, the most recent World Cup, and boycotted the upcoming Asia Cup, this competition offers a direct route back into hockey’s mainstream.
The FIH and the PHF are yet to confirm this development.
Pakistan’s return to the Pro League is also steeped in history. The four-time world champions and three-time Olympic gold medalists were once the undisputed giants of the sport. They remain Asia’s most successful team with eight Asian Games gold medals and have also lifted the Champions Trophy three times. Yet, administrative turmoil and chronic financial instability have left the game on the margins in recent decades.
This reported rescue package not only guarantees participation but could also spark much-needed momentum in reviving Pakistan hockey. However, with questions still lingering over the PHF’s financial transparency, many believe structural reforms will be as crucial as the funds themselves if Pakistan is to reclaim its past glory.