FIH invites Pakistan for Pro League after New Zealand pulls out

After Nations Cup champions New Zealand declined participation in the 2025–2026 FIH Pro League, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is hoping for state support to help the national team seize a golden opportunity to compete against the world’s best.

“I am a hundred percent sure the state will back us,” a PHF official told Nukta.

New Zealand turned down promotion to the FIH Pro League citing financial and logistical challenges.

“The current format is expensive, travel-heavy and limits home games,” said Ken Maplesdon, Acting CEO of Hockey New Zealand.

“It does not support the sustainable, athlete-first programme we are building in New Zealand,” he added.

The New Zealand women’s team has also declined its place due to similar concerns.

“This decision was not taken lightly. We are proud of what both teams achieved to qualify. However, after consulting athletes and staff, it became clear that the Pro League is not workable for us right now,” Maplesdon said.

Although, the New Zealand Hockey Players Association supported the decision, players expressed their disappointment.

“Every player dreams of testing themselves against the best in the world,” said New Zealand striker Sam Lane.

“That’s why we play, so it’s disappointing not to be able to compete in the Pro League after the hard work we put in to qualify again. We understand the challenges of the league and implore the FIH to properly engage with and listen to what athletes have to say,” he said.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation has been given a deadline of August 12 to inform FIH of their decision to accept or deny the invitation.

Participating in the Pro League will also be financially demanding for Pakistan but the PHF views it as critical for the national team’s development and long-term success.

If Pakistan fails to confirm France will be next in line. The PHF has already approached the government, requesting funding to support participation in the Pro League. This correspondent understands that the federation has requested Rs 600 million annually to manage overall hockey operations and Rs350 million specifically for the Pro League campaign.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming Asia Cup in India scheduled for next month also remains uncertain. Nukta understands that the PHF has conveyed its security concerns to both the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and FIH. The federation fears sending the team to India may pose risks and the government has yet to make a final call.

The Asia Cup also serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. The top team from the continent will book a direct spot in the global event.

The issue has placed pressure on both the AHF and FIH as political tensions threaten to hurt the sport in the region. A decision from the Pakistani government is expected soon but may still take a few more days.

The team would need at least a three-week training camp to properly prepare for the continental event. In the meantime, the management is conducting remote training, assigning weekly workouts to players and monitoring their progress through shared videos and performance data.

A total of 26 players are currently in the training pool and will be considered for upcoming international assignments.