ISLAMABAD: The countdown has ended and the stage lights are fully ablaze as Pakistan step into the fierce arena of the FIH Pro League for the very first time, opening their campaign against the defending champions and world No 1 Holland at Santiago del Estero, a vibrant hockey pocket in northern Argentina.
In a conversation with The News from Santiago del Estero, head coach Tahir Zaman painted a clear, unembellished picture. This is a test against a side carved from years of top-tier competition. Pakistan, returning to global hockey’s high table after years adrift, must walk in with disciplined hearts rather than inflated hopes.
“We know exactly who we’re up against,” Tahir said. “Holland have experience, exposure, rhythm. We are new to this platform, and that demands realism from every player. I’ve told them: don’t allow the Dutch free access. Keep one eye on the ball and the other on their forwards. Attack is secondary; containment is the real art here. The goal is not to look for repeated attempts, but to make every inch of the Pakistan defence difficult to crack.”
The coach added that Pakistan’s plan revolves around selective strikes rather than wide-open charges. “We will counter only when the moment is genuine. Opening up the field repeatedly against the world’s best would be reckless.”
Tahir also touched on conditions in Argentina. The weather, surprisingly warm in Santiago del Estero, has provided comfort reminiscent of an early Islamabad summer. “Buenos Aires was cold, but here the heat is encouraging for us. We’ve trained four days under closed-door protocols. No team can watch another’s sessions. It’s a sealed environment, very competitive and intense.”
Pakistan’s opening match begins at 7pm local time (3am Wednesday PST). Tahir acknowledged that any debut on a global stage requires settling time. “But the boys have acclimatized well. These first four matches of the league will reveal how quickly they adapt.”
Captain Hammad Butt echoed the confidence. Though Holland stand tall at No 1 and Pakistan sit at No 14, Hammad brushed aside the numbers. “Rankings don’t decide a match. Execution on the day does. We feel good, we feel ready. The weather suits us. I ask our fans back home to keep us in their prayers. We carry their hopes onto the turf.”
Forward Rana Waheed struck an optimistic tone, reminding that Pakistan have performed strongly in recent Asian events and qualifiers. “This league will sharpen every department of our game. Yes, it’s new territory, but we come with podium finishes behind us. We are here to compete, not just to participate.”
One of the most uplifting stories in the squad belongs to Abu Bakar, returning after a long injury layoff. “A year without competitive hockey is an eternity,” he said. “I spent eight months of rehab in Australia. I feel restored, re-energised, and I want to throw myself into this opportunity with the same fire I had before my injury.”
Goalkeepers Abdullah Ishtiaq and Munir-ur-Rehman both acknowledged the weight of the moment. “This is more than a league,” Munir said. “It is a test of Pakistan hockey’s survival instinct. We may be newcomers to this level, but our belief is intact. We want to leave a mark, and we want the world to see that we are not here by accident.”
