KARACHI:Pakistan hockey team’s disappointing performance in the FIH Pro League 2026 exposed major weaknesses in the squad, including poor defence, lack of fitness, and mental fragility, Chairman of the National Selection Committee Olympian Samiullah said, adding that the Green Shirts will have to work hard to compete with the world’s top teams.
Speaking to The News on Sunday, Samiullah described Pakistan’s campaign in the FIH Pro League 2026 as a “total disappointment” after the team lost all eight of its matches. He said the tournament exposed several loopholes, deficiencies, and grey areas in the team’s performance. According to Samiullah, Pakistan’s middle and deep defence repeatedly failed to clear the ball effectively, while the lack of attacking threat from the right flank allowed opponents to launch repeated attacks, resulting in numerous penalty corners and goals.
Commenting on the goalkeepers’ performances, Samiullah said they were not up to the required standard, but added that no goalkeeper could perform effectively when the defence failed to stop relentless attacks.
“What can a goalkeeper do alone when attacks come like rain and the deep defence fails to clear the ball?” he said, adding that the heavy defeats reflected the failures of Pakistan’s defensive unit.
Samiullah also identified poor fitness as one of the major reasons behind Pakistan’s disappointing campaign. He pointed out that in several matches the team conceded three to four goals in the fourth quarter, indicating fatigue and a lack of physical conditioning.
He said the performances showed that Pakistan remains far behind the world’s leading hockey nations, particularly the teams ranked among the top 10 in the FIH rankings. “We have a long way to go and a lot of hard work is required to overcome the shortcomings identified during the FIH Pro League,” he said.
Samiullah maintained that the selected players represented the best available talent in the country and had been chosen on the basis of their domestic performances and international experience. However, he stressed that they must improve not only their skills but also their fitness and mental strength, as the team appeared to struggle under pressure against stronger opponents.
