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KUALA LUMPUR: Pakistan team was held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by hosts Malaysia in their opening match of the FIH Hockey Nations Cup here at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The match ended in a draw despite the Green Shirts maintaining a lead up to the third quarter.
Pakistan gained an advantage in the first quarter, netting two goals. The early scores came from Nadeem Ahmad and Rehman Abdul, setting a strong tone for the game.
The Green Shirts showed dominance until the third quarter, preventing the hosts from reaching the goal post.
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Malaysia staged a comeback in the fourth quarter with Saari Fitri and Azrai Abu Kamal scoring goals. With the game evenly poised, Pakistan’s Rana Waheed Ashraf added another goal, bringing the score to 3-2 in favour of his team.
But Malayisa fought back again as Holan Syed scored another goal in the last phase of the game, which levelled the game.
Pakistan, placed in Pool B, will now face Japan tomorrow and New Zealand on June 18.
The FIH Nations Cup format includes initial pool matches, with the top teams advancing to the semi-finals on June 20. The final and bronze medal matches are scheduled for June 21.
The tournament features eight participating teams divided into two pools for the preliminary rounds. Pool A consists of France, Korea, South Africa, and Wales, while Pool B includes Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
On the opening day, all teams will compete, and as the week progresses, the tournament will transition to classification matches and medal rounds.
For the unversed, the FIH Hockey Nations Cup is a vital opportunity for teams looking to qualify for the esteemed FIH Hockey Pro League. The champion of this tournament will gain promotion to the 2025–26 Pro League season.
Pakistan squad for Nations Cup:
Ammad Butt (captain), Rana Waheed (vice captain), Muneer-ur-Rehman, Abdullah Ishtiaq, Mohammad Abdullah, Mohammad Sufyan Khan, Abdul Manan, Hamad Anjum, Arshad Liaquat, Moeen Shakeel, Zakrya Hayat, Ghazanfar Ali, Salman Razaq, Junaid Manzoor, Afraz Khan, Abdul Rehman, Ahmed Nadeem and Mohibullah.
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