Bangladesh’s hockey team struggled throughout the World Cup qualifying playoff series against Pakistan. Even in the final match, where Pakistan had already secured the series, the hosts could not avoid a heavy defeat. Today, in Dhaka, Pakistan triumphed 10–3 in the third match, ending the series with dominating performance.
After three matches, Bangladesh conceded a total of 26 goals, while scoring only 5 in return.
Series Results
| Match | Venue | Result | Bangladesh Goals | Pakistan Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Dhaka | Loss | 5 | 8 |
| 2nd | Dhaka | Loss | 3 | 8 |
| 3rd | Dhaka | Loss | 3 | 10 |
| Total | – | – | 11 | 26 |
The statistics make Pakistan’s dominance clear. However, Bangladesh failed to show any real competitive spirit. Weak attacking, defensive lapses, and wasted opportunities meant Rezaul Karim Babu’s team never truly challenged their opponents.
Missed Opportunities
Several clear chances were wasted by Bangladesh, contributing heavily to the margin of defeat. Rakibul, Abdullah, Shobuz, and Obaidul Joy missed straightforward connections. Sohanur Rahman Shobuz failed to score even with an open post in the 15th minute.
Pakistan converted 9 out of 15 penalty corners. Sufiyan scored 6, Abdur Rahman 2, and Nadim Ahmed 1. Rana Walid scored a field goal. For Bangladesh, two field goals and one penalty corner goal accounted for their three goals. Despite 8 penalty corners in the series, Ashraful Islam scored only once.
Young Talent in the Squad
Bangladesh fielded seven U-21 players, who will soon travel to India for the U-21 Hockey World Cup, marking Bangladesh’s first-ever appearance at a Hockey World Cup. While the series was useful as preparation, the team’s performance serves as a stark warning, conceding 26 goals over three matches and highlighting serious vulnerabilities ahead of major tournaments.