Pakistan thump South Africa to secure seventh spot

E-Paper | June 11, 2026

KARACHI: Pakistan trounced South Africa 6-2 in the 7-8 placement match of the World Hockey League on Sunday in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Abdul Haseem Khan scored two while Mohammad Waqas, Mohammad Rizwan Sr, Aamir Shazad and Abbas Haider Bilgrami scored a goal each.

Waqas opened the scoring through a penalty corner in the 22nd minute and Pakistan were leading at half-time. Quick goals from Rizwan, Shazad, Haseem and Bilgrami in the opening minutes of the second half strengthened Pakistan's position.

South Africa fought back and scored two goals through Timothy Drummond and Lloyd Norris-Jones but it was not enough to break Pakistan's momentum, who scored their final goal four minutes before full time through Haseem.

Pakistan were knocked out by Korea in the quarterfinals while hosts Malaysia beat them to fifth place 3-1 on Saturday.

The Greeenshirts now have to win the Asia Cup to qualify for the World Cup.

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Ali Vaqar Awan

Jul 07, 2013 05:57pm

Totally embrassing performance put up by our hockey team and its humiliating. Atleast Pakistan could have finished in Top4 if not victory stand. It was the golden chance of Pakistan hockey team to secure berth for world cup. Now winning Asia cup will be an uphill task as Pakistan will have to face stiff challenge from India, Korea, Malaysia and China as no team is that easy to beat. Pakistan should have played Rehan Butt in forward line as it would have got strengthened. Pakistan needs to improve a lot if they have to win Asia cup. Penelty corner conversion needs to be improved along with fitness, finishing and defending. Pakistan needs to work on retaining pocession and play hockey according to European style. These days matches are won by scientific thinking and logic, not just by style and individual briallance.

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mir

Jul 07, 2013 07:11pm

Well done Pakistan. congratulation for 7h position. one point up a big improvement.

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hockey fan

Jul 07, 2013 07:42pm

Great work ! Go Green Shirts Go !! Pakistan Zindabad !!!!

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Ali

Jul 07, 2013 07:45pm

Work on keeping the ball and players fitness first. If they can run and pass on the ball to each other is all it takes. Especially once in lead, keep the ball and frustrate the opponent. Pakistan is slipping to its bottom in sports arena. In cricket, coach even doesn't want to be judged by winning or losing.

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Khan

Jul 08, 2013 10:24am

@Ali Vaqar Awan: When you hire a team based on regional bias this is what you get. The craze to shift cricket and hockey to Lahore and selecting a provincial team has destroyed both games , Pakistan name along with other institutions of Pakistan. Bring merit and start taking talented players from all over Pakistan.

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Azam Mahmood

Jul 08, 2013 12:55pm

Pakistan needs a Hockey Fed Chief like Air Marshal Nur Khan to radically transform its Hockey.

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Naeem Syed

Jul 08, 2013 03:33pm

We are really making a lot of progress we are having to fight for the last place, and we could even do that. WOW!

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Ali Vaqar Awan

Jul 09, 2013 12:09am

@Khan: Totally endorse your point. Yes indeed selection of team on merit is essential. These problems have effected other areas as well and list goes on and on. Merit in selection will be attained once we have those people whoare trully passionate about sports and have willingness to improve it. Otherwise our sports are heading towards dark ages. We need some one like Nur Khan to take our sports to better level. Also government interference in sports needs to be stopped inorder make it function better.

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