Korea’s national hockey team arrived in Islamabad on Monday night to play a four-match FIH-approved international Test series against Pakistan, marking the first visit by an international hockey team to the country for a formal bilateral series in nearly two decades.
The series will begin on July 30, with the second Test scheduled for August 1, followed by the third on August 4 and the fourth on August 7. All four matches will be played in Islamabad.
The visit marks a significant milestone for Pakistan hockey, with the country hosting a formal bilateral international series for the first time in around 20 years.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has described the tour as an important step towards the revival of international hockey in Pakistan and a reflection of growing confidence in the country’s ability to host international sporting events in a safe and professional environment.
PHF President Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani welcomed the Korean team upon its arrival and described the series as a proud moment for Pakistan hockey.
“After almost two decades, we are once again welcoming an international team in Pakistan,” Wani said. “We warmly welcome the Korea national hockey team and are confident that this series will promote quality international hockey while further strengthening the longstanding friendship between the two countries.”
The four FIH-approved Tests will provide both teams with valuable international exposure and competitive preparation ahead of their upcoming international commitments.
The PHF also thanked the Government of Pakistan, security agencies and other stakeholders for their support in facilitating the Korean team’s visit.
The federation has invited hockey fans from across the country to attend the matches and support the national team as Pakistan looks to strengthen its position on the international hockey circuit.
First test for new coaching staff ahead of World Cup
The series will also be the first major test for Pakistan’s newly appointed high-performance coaching staff, who have been working with the national team over the past couple of weeks.
Earlier in July, the PHF appointed an internationally acclaimed coaching team as part of its strategy to revive Pakistan hockey and restore the country’s standing among the world’s leading hockey nations.
The coaching setup includes Herman Kruis as Overall National Hockey Coaching Advisor and Head Coach, David Dwyer as Fitness and High-Performance Coach, Adnan Zakir as Junior Talent Identification Coach, Bob Johan Veldhof as Goalkeeping Coach and Chris Bowen as Sports Psychologist.
While Kruis has yet to join the team, the other members of the coaching staff have joined the national setup and have been working with the players in recent weeks.
The Korea series will give the new coaching staff their first opportunity to assess the team in competitive international action. The four matches will allow them to identify the side’s strengths and weaknesses, assess player combinations and evaluate the areas that need improvement before the team heads into a major international tournament.
The timing of the series is particularly important, with Pakistan set to compete at the FIH Hockey World Cup from August 15 to August 30, 2026. The tournament will be co-hosted in Wavre, Belgium, and Amstelveen, Netherlands.
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