AMSTELVEEN (Kashmir English): Pakistan defeated South Africa 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a thrilling 4-4 draw to secure 11th position at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on Friday.
Pakistan’s 11th-place finish is their best World Cup result in 20 years. The Green Shirts last achieved a better position in 2006, when they finished sixth. They had finished 12th in the 2010 and 2018 editions and failed to qualify for the 2014 and 2023 tournaments.
South Africa took an early lead through Trevor de Laura in the eighth minute before Diane Kessie doubled the advantage. Pakistan responded strongly, with Afraz and Muhammad Imad scoring to level the match 2-2 before half-time.
Rana Waheed Ashraf then put Pakistan ahead in the third quarter, but Mustafa Kessie equalised for South Africa. Mustafa scored again from a penalty corner in the 55th minute to restore South Africa’s lead.
Pakistan mounted a late comeback, with Muhammad Hammaduddin scoring in the final minute to make it 4-4 and force a penalty shootout.
The shootout remained tightly contested before former Pakistan captain Imad Butt converted the decisive attempt to seal a 4-3 victory for the Green Shirts.
