Pakistan, Bangladesh set to clash in World Cup hockey play-off in Dhaka Thursday

The World Cup hockey play-off series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is set to begin on Thursday at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium in Dhaka, 24NewsHD TV reported on Wednesday.

The three-match series will determine which team advances to the World Cup Qualifiers.

Bangladesh earned the play-off spot after finishing sixth in the recent Asia Cup but could not travel to India for the event due to political reasons.

Similarly, Pakistan also skipped the tournament in India for the same reason.

As a result, Bangladesh has agreed to host the play-off series and will bear all organizational expenses.

Pakistan, a historic powerhouse in world hockey with multiple World Cup and Olympic titles, remains far ahead of Bangladesh in terms of experience and achievements, though its golden era has faded.

For Bangladesh, losing the home series to Pakistan would be a major setback in their bid to qualify for the World Cup.

Bangladesh will also make its maiden appearance at the FIH Junior World Cup, scheduled to start on November 28 in Chennai, India.

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation had brought in Dutch coach Eric Mein to prepare the Under-21 side, but the senior team’s play-off commitments caused some disruptions in planning and coordination.

Pakistan’s head coach, Tahir Zaman, did not travel with the team to Dhaka, but the squad held three days of training sessions ahead of the series. 

Pakistan captain Ahmad Shakeel Butt said his team was excited to compete in Dhaka, describing the series as “an important opportunity for both sides to qualify for the World Cup.”

The first match between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played on Thursday at 2 pm in Dhaka’s busy Gulistan area, with free entry for spectators.