Pakistan hockey team returns home after finishing 11th at World Cup

Pakistan had qualified for the Hockey World Cup after eight years, raising hopes that the tournament would provide valuable international exposure to a team seeking to rebuild its standing in the sport. However, the Green Shirts were unable to produce the results they had hoped for against some of the tournament's major teams.

Pakistan suffered defeats against England and arch-rivals India, while its match against Wales ended in a draw. The results ultimately left Pakistan in 11th position in the tournament. Ammad Shakeel Butt admits results fell short.

National hockey player Ammad Shakeel Butt said participating in the World Cup had provided the squad with valuable experience, but acknowledged that Pakistan could not achieve the results it had expected. He said playing at the highest international level gave the players important exposure despite the disappointment over the team's final position.

Pakistan has a celebrated history in international hockey, making its struggle to return to the sport's top tier particularly significant for players and supporters. The World Cup campaign provided the squad with an opportunity to test itself against leading international opposition and identify areas requiring improvement.

Hannan Shahid shifts focus to Asian Games. Pakistan forward Hannan Shahid said the experience gained from playing World Cup matches would prove useful when the team competes at the Asian Games. He expressed hope that Pakistan would deliver stronger performances at the continental competition.

The Asian Games will be particularly important for the national side as it attempts to translate its World Cup experience into improved results. Pakistan's players will now have an opportunity to assess their performances and address weaknesses exposed during the global competition.