Kicking off in 2019, the FIH Pro League is the flagship event of the International Hockey Federation. The event, held annually, is contested by the top nine teams of field hockey-playing nations in a round-robin format, with each side playing the other twice.

The initial four editions of the competition saw the same nine nations in action. Then, the first FIH Nations Cup was introduced in 2022. Teams ranked below the Pro League participants competed in it. The winner of the Nations Cup replaces the bottom team of the previous edition of the FIH Pro League.

At the 2025 Nations Cup, Pakistan had finished second, losing to New Zealand 2-6 in the final. However, New Zealand withdrew from the 2025-2026 Pro League, citing financial constraints, providing Pakistan with an opportunity to feature in the Pro League for the first time.

In its present format, the Pro League is held in multiple legs at various venues. Three teams play each other twice at one venue in each leg. Hence, every team plays 16 matches, spread over four legs at as many venues.

Given a financial lifeline and a spot in hockey’s premier event, the Pakistan team looked set for a comeback. But the opportunity was squandered before the first match even began…

Pakistan, the record four-time World Cup winners, have been out of mainstream hockey for a long time. They failed to qualify for the last three Olympics and two of the last three World Cups. The FIH Pro League provided an opportunity for the national team to feature in the top tier of international hockey. 

BROKE BUT BAILED OUT

The Pro League’s format dictates that participation entails a big expenditure. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has been carrying around the begging bowl for more than a decade and a half. The........

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