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Pakistan's promotion to the Pro League from the FIH Nations Cup comes after New Zealand pulled out of the competition. (File Photo)
Pakistan hockey team has been included in the upcoming 2025/26 season of the FIH Pro League, which means that their storied rivalry with India will be renewed. Besides India, Pakistan will join Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, Netherlands, and Spain in the upcoming season for which a detailed schedule is yet to be announced.
Pakistan’s promotion to the Pro League from the FIH Nations Cup comes after New Zealand pulled out of the competition. New Zealand had originally secured promotion after beating Pakistan in the final. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) said in its statement that it then extended the invitation to runners-up Pakistan, who accepted.
It remains to be seen if neutral venues will be assigned for matches between India and Pakistan play at neutral venues. A PTI report has stated that this could be the case, although the Sports Ministry had recently stated that the two countries will play each other if required in multinational events.
Pakistan withdrew their men’s team from the ongoing 2025 Asia Cup which is being played in Rajgir, Bihar, citing security concerns. This was despite the fact that the government of India had decided to issue visas to their players for continental showpiece which is also a World Cup qualifier. In the last season of the Pro League, India played their home matches in Bhubaneswar and travelled to Europe for away games. It remains to be seen where the games against Pakistan would be planned once the schedule is announced by FIH.
FIH President Tayyab Ikram welcomed Pakistan into the event roster for the first time. “Great to see Pakistan back in elite competition – this is a truly impactful milestone for world hockey. Their return marks not only the comeback of a team with such a rich and storied history, but also an exciting boost to the visibility and reach of the FIH Hockey Pro League,” Ikram said.
“I can already anticipate an enhanced visibility of the Pro League with Pakistan’s participation. Congratulations to the Pakistan men’s team for qualifying through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup and earning their place in the ‘League of the Best’ for the very first time.
“This achievement is a strong example of how creating more opportunities at every level of our sport fosters growth and provides a natural pathway to the very top,” he added.
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