By Alam Zeb Safi
LONDON: Pakistan produced their most spirited display of the season but were edged 4-3 by India in a thrilling FIH Hockey Pro League game at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Tuesday, extending their winless run to 13 matches.
Already relegated to the bottom of the standings after a difficult campaign, Pakistan pushed their arch-rivals all the way before a late goal from Moin Shakeel set up a tense finish in London.
India’s victory was built on goals from Abhishek, Nilakanta Sharma, Sukhjeet Singh and Rajinder Singh, while Pakistan responded through Ahmad Nadeem, captain Abu Mahmood and Shakeel.
The result was another setback for Pakistan, but unlike many of their previous defeats in the 2025-26 Pro League season, they matched one of the world’s leading sides for long periods and remained in contention until the final seconds.
Pakistan struck first when Ahmad Nadeem converted a penalty corner in the eighth minute to stun India and take a 1-0 lead.
India gradually seized control through superior possession and relentless attacking pressure, repeatedly penetrating the Pakistani circle. Their persistence paid off in the second quarter when Abhishek equalised with a field goal before Nilakanta Sharma fired home from a penalty corner to give India a 2-1 halftime advantage.
The Indians extended their lead shortly after the break through Sukhjeet Singh, whose field goal made it 3-1 and appeared to put the match beyond Pakistan.
However, Pakistan refused to fade away. Abu Mahmood reduced the deficit from a penalty corner in the 53rd minute, raising hopes of an unlikely comeback.
Those hopes were short-lived as Rajinder Singh restored India’s two-goal cushion with a penalty-corner strike less than a minute later to make it 4-2.
Pakistan mounted one final charge and Shakeel scored from another penalty corner with nine seconds remaining, but India successfully saw out the closing moments to secure the win.
India’s attacking dominance was reflected in the statistics, with 30 circle penetrations compared to Pakistan’s nine and 11 penalty corners to Pakistan’s eight. Yet Pakistan were more efficient from set pieces, converting three of their eight penalty corners.
While the defeat leaves Pakistan still searching for their first victory of the Pro League campaign, the narrow margin against India represented one of their strongest performances of the season and offered encouragement despite a 13th consecutive loss.
