On the Friday of the National Hockey Stadium Kuala Lumpur tournament, Pakistan’s national men’s hockey team surprised France with a dramatic semifinal at 3 – 3. They will now represent Asia in the final aspect of the FIH Nations Cup after winning the penalty shoot-out 3 – 2. This result has shocked the world of hockey.
A Close and Exciting Semifinal
In the first quarter, both teams were locked in a close defensive battle. France had four penalty corners and Pakistan had one, but neither team could score.
Xavier Esmenjaud made a terrific field goal in the 25th minute of the second quarter to break the deadlock. Victory Charlet’s well-placed penalty corner gave France a two-goal lead early in the third quarter
But Pakistan started a five-minute strike burst:
Afraz Hakeem scored with help from Rana Waheed Ashraf.
Sufyan Khan made the gap narrower with a drag-flick.
Muhammad Hammaduddin sent the ball into the net just before the end of the third quarter, giving his team a 3–2 lead.
Late in the game, Charlet scored a penalty corner for France that levelled the score and brought the game to a shootout.
Key Players: Excellent in the Shootout
Muneeb Ur-Rehman, Pakistan’s custodian, gained famous when he stopped three shots from France, which helped Pakistan win the shootout.
Rana Waheed Ashraf, who was named Player of the Match, turned the course of the game with his mix of imaginative play and accurate strikes.
Last Opponent Set: New Zealand or Korea
Pakistan is preparing set for a last match against either New Zealand or South Korea now that France is gone. Later today, the two teams will play in the second semifinal. Not only would winning there mean winning the Nations Cup, but it would also mean moving up to the FIH Pro League for the 2025–26 season. This would make Pakistan’s status in the globe much better.
Why the Win Matters
Pakistan has reached the Nations Cup final for the second successive year. The team is getting more and more powerful with every game, and mentally tough. The way the team played, and especially the way they staged a recovery from trailing in the first half and dug deep to hold off the late pressure, shows how far the team has come.
The semifinal success has also foregrounded issues people back in the home country have repressed for far too long. Ammad Butt, the team captain, revealed that a lot of players still haven’t collected their money. He also remarked that hockey doesn’t make as much money as cricket does.
Getting ready for the Final
Pakistan is confident and on a roll going into the final, no matter who they play. They have a decent chance of winning the title since they can come back from behind, take penalty corners with discipline, and have goalkeepers they can trust.
This win feels like a reluctant new beginning for a hockey nation that wants to get back to its glory days. In 1994, they last won the Hockey World Cup. Their chances of getting back to the top level would be better if they won the Nations Cup.
Last Thought
Besides the act of winning, Pakistan’s triumph against France in Kuala Lumpur represented something. It demonstrated that they could stand, fight and win when the going got tough. And on Saturday, Stroked Plastic will look to do it again; not just to win the Nations Cup, but to show that Pakistan hockey has come back, is changing, and is ready for the next chapter.
