AMSTELVEEN: Pakistan’s Hockey World Cup campaign ended with an 11th-place finish on Friday after they beat South Africa 4-3 in a shootout following a 4-4 draw.
Former captain Ammad Butt converted Pakistan’s decisive final attempt at Wagener Hockey Stadium. The victory gave Pakistan their best World Cup finish since taking sixth place in 2006.
South Africa initially took control through Trevor de Lora, who scored in the eighth minute. Dayaan Cassiem then doubled the lead early in the second quarter. However, Afraz and Mohammad Ammad struck for Pakistan before halftime to make it 2-2.
Pakistan moved 3-2 ahead when Rana Waheed Ashraf scored in the 32nd minute. Mustapha Cassiem responded eight minutes later before scoring again with five minutes remaining to restore South Africa’s lead at 4-3.
Pakistan then forced a shootout in the final minute, with Muhammad Hammaduddin making it 4-4. In the shootout, South Africa converted its opening two attempts but later missed twice.
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Pakistan gained the advantage before Rana Waheed Ashraf missed a chance to seal the match. Ammad Butt then held his nerve and scored the winner.
Pakistan had finished 12th at the 2010 and 2018 World Cups and failed to qualify in 2014 and 2023. Their 11th-place result in 2026 therefore marked their strongest finish at the tournament in two decades.
