LONDON: India kept Pakistan winless with a narrow 4-3 win in an action-packed FIH Pro Hockey League match between the arch-rivals here at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Tuesday.

The defeat marked Pakistan’s 13th consecutive loss in the nine-team tournament and extended India’s unbeaten run against the Green-shirts since 2016 when Pakistan last upstaged India in a competitive hockey match.

After taking an early lead, Pakistan were pushed back in the remaining three quarters as India gradually took control of the game.

Nadeem Ahmed gave Pakistan a lead on a penalty corner in the seventh minute as the Green-shirts remained ahead despite India enjoying better ball possession.

However, the break shifted momentum towards India as Pakistan’s defensive strategy backfired. Taking advantage of their superior circle penetrations compared to Pakistan, Abhishek equalised for India in the 21st minute after several saves by Pakistan goalkeeper Ali Raza.

Two minutes later, India’s Nilakanta Sharma put his side ahead 2-1. Pakistan created several chances towards the end of the second quarter, with Rana Waheed Ashraf impressing in midfield, but they could not equalise. At the end of the second quarter, the score line remained the same.

India continued to dominate in the second half of the match, extending their lead through goals from Sukhjeet Singh (39th minute) and Rajinder Singh (51st).

Pakistan could not score despite getting a penalty corner in the last minutes of the third quarter.

In the last quarter Pakistan continued to fight until the final whistle, with skipper Abu Bakr Mahmood (53rd minute) and Moin Shakeel (last minute) scoring goals to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

Former four-time world champions, Pakistan, who are currently participating in the third and last leg of the 2025-26 Pro League season, have lost all their matches on their tours to Argentina, Australia and Belgium for featuring in the league.

Pakistan’s winless run in the Pro League with less than two months to go before they compete in the Aug 15-30 World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium is no good omen for the team.

FIH APOLOGISES

Meanwhile, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) apologised for the incorrect display of Pakistan’s flag ahead of their Pro League match against India in London on Tuesday.

A flag which was displayed as Pakistan’s on the field before the start of the match had green colour only, while the white colour was missing.

“Following the incorrect display of Pakistan’s flag during the FIH Hockey Pro League match today in London, England, FIH would like to apologise unreservedly for this error,” the FIH said in a media release soon after Tuesday’s match.

“Hockey’s world governing body understands that a team’s flag is an important symbol of identity, pride, and representation and deeply regrets any offense this may have caused to the Pakistani team, supporters, people, and National Federation.

It added, “The FIH takes full responsibility for this operational mistake and will be reviewing its processes to ensure that similar errors do not occur in the future.

“The FIH [in this regard] has sent an official apology to the Pakistan Hockey Federation as well.”

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2026