Pakistan qualify for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Final after 13 Years

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Pakistan's journey in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup has been an amazing one as they reached the Final of the tournament on Wednesday (May 8).

After playing four games in the tournament Pakistan secured their spot in the final, set to face Japan on May 11 in Ipoh, Malaysia. The team's commendable effort has led them to the top of the table, with a record of three wins and one draw.

Japan, mirroring Pakistan's record, has also achieved three wins and a draw, promising a competitive final match. Malaysia and New Zealand follow in the standings, each with six points. Korea, with three points, and Canada, struggling without any wins, fill the fifth and sixth positions, respectively.

Path to the Final

In a crucial match against Canada, Pakistan overcame an early setback to secure a 5-4 victory, demonstrating their resilience and skill. Despite falling behind 2-0 within the first 17 minutes, Pakistan rallied back, with Abu Bakr Mahmood scoring twice to ignite the comeback. Contributions from Arshad Liaqat, Rana Waheed Ashraf, and Ghazanfar Ali sealed the win. Canada's effort saw Sean Davis scoring twice, with Harbir Sindhu and Avjot Buttar each adding a goal.

Pakistan will play New Zealand in the final group stage match on Friday but the top two spots are sealed as Japan and Pakistan will fight out in the Finale. The Green Machines met Japan in the group stages, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

As both teams prepare for their final showdown, the stakes couldn't be higher. This is the first time the Green Machines have qualified for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Final since 2011, marking a significant improvement.

Sufyan Muhammad Khan is their current top scorer with 4 goals, while Abu Mahmood has netted thrice in the tournament. Ghaznafar Ali, Waheed Ashraf Rana and Arshad Liaquat have scored three goals each in the tournament.