Islamabad: Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, on Monday announced a cash prize of Rs1.5 million for each member of the national men’s hockey team after they qualified for the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the reward has been announced in recognition of the team’s impressive performance during the qualifiers.
Pakistan secured qualification for the global tournament after defeating Japan 4–3 in a closely contested match during the qualifiers held in Egypt last week.
The victory confirmed Pakistan’s place in the 2026 Hockey World Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted jointly by Belgium and the Netherlands in August this year.
Officials said the announcement aims to acknowledge the players’ dedication and encourage the revival of hockey in Pakistan, which has historically been the country’s national sport.
Pakistan has a proud hockey legacy, having won three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles. Legendary players such as Shahbaz Ahmed and Samiullah Khan played key roles in the country’s dominance in international hockey in the past.
However, the sport has struggled in recent decades due to management issues, limited infrastructure and rising competition, leading to a decline in Pakistan’s international rankings
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