MUSCAT: Pakistan hockey team management was left red-faced after the side was penalised for fielding six players instead of the permitted five during its match against India at the Asian Youth Hockey5s Championship in Muscat, Oman.

The incident occurred on Friday night shortly after the match began, when the umpires noticed that Pakistan had six players on the field.

The officials subsequently sent two Pakistani players off, leaving the team with just three players on the field. India took full advantage of the situation and went on to win the contest 7-3.

The embarrassing blunder evoked memories of a similar incident during the 2022 Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in Jakarta, when a mistake by the Pakistan team management contributed to the side losing a crucial qualification match against Japan.

Pakistan had scored a late equaliser in that match, but the goal was disallowed after the umpires noticed that the team had 12 players on the field instead of the permitted 11.

The result eventually contributed to Pakistan missing out on qualification for the 2023 World Cup. Then head coach Khawaja Junaid was subsequently handed a life ban by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

The ban was later lifted, and Junaid is now part of the management of the senior national team.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026