Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a cash reward of Rs. 1.5 million for each player of the Pakistan national hockey team in recognition of their performance in the Hockey World Cup qualifiers.
The government said the move recognizes the players’ dedication and hard work and aims to support the development of hockey in Pakistan.
“The move recognizes the players’ dedication and hard work and is intended to support the development of hockey in Pakistan,” a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office said.
The Prime Minister’s Office added that the national team’s participation in the qualifying tournament had generated widespread excitement among hockey fans across the country.
The announcement was also described as a boost for athletes, highlighting the importance of perseverance and sporting excellence.
Pakistan secured qualification for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan in the semi-final of the World Cup qualifying tournament on Friday.
The Men in Green continued their unbeaten run in the tournament, defeating Japan 4–3 in Egypt, which confirmed their place in the global event and ended an eight-year wait for World Cup qualification.
Pakistan later lost 4–1 to England in the final of the qualifiers.
The 2026 Hockey World Cup is scheduled to begin on August 14 in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Pakistan had failed to qualify for the previous edition of the tournament and last secured a place in the Hockey World Cup in 2018.
