Pakistan suffered a disappointing start to the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026, losing 1-4 to England in a Pool D match in Amstelveen. But even more embarrassing was a bizarre blunder during the game, for which Pakistan captain Abu Bakar Mahmood received an official warning from the referee. The incident left former captain Salman Akbar appalled.
England thrashed Pakistan 4-1 in a pool D match.
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The incident occurred in the 17th minute, shortly after England had taken a 1-0 lead, when Pakistan were left scrambling for their penalty-corner protective gear. According to Akbar’s social media post, the team had forgotten the equipment in the changing room. A player was even seen running back to the dressing room to fetch it.
The delay ended with captain Abu Bakar receiving a green card and spending two minutes on the sidelines.
Deep Dive
What caused Pakistan's penalty corner gear blunder during the Hockey World Cup match against England?
Pakistan's team forgot to bring their penalty corner protective gear to the field, which resulted in a player having to run back to the dressing room to fetch it, leading to an official warning for the captain.
Why did Salman Akbar criticize the Pakistan hockey team's preparation for the World Cup?
Salman Akbar criticized the team's lack of discipline and organization, stating that forgetting essential equipment during the World Cup raised serious questions about their professionalism and readiness for high-stakes matches.
How did India's performance against Wales set the stage for their upcoming match against England?
India's 3-1 victory over Wales showcased their strength in set pieces, notably with captain Harmanpreet Singh scoring twice, which they will need to build on to face a tougher opponent in England.
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The former Pakistan captain was stunned by the lack of discipline and organisation during a tournament as big as the World Cup, calling it “another unwanted record”.
Taking to X, he wrote: “Wow. Another unwanted record from Pakistan hockey. In the opening match of the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 against England, Pakistan reportedly forgot the penalty corner protective gear in the changing room. As a result, the captain received the green card.
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“Forgetting essential protective equipment for penalty corners simply cannot happen on the biggest stage of international hockey. Preparation is not just about tactics, fitness and skills. It is also about discipline and organisation.
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“Forgetting essential protective equipment for penalty corners simply cannot happen on the biggest stage of international hockey. Preparation is not just about tactics, fitness and skills. It is also about discipline and organisation.
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“The World Cup demands the highest level of professionalism. Unfortunately, moments like this raise serious questions about how prepared we really are for the big stage.”
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India, who are part of the same Pool D, started their campaign on a winning note, beating lower-ranked Wales 3-1. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted two penalty corners, while Sanjay also found the net from a set piece.
India will face England next, with the European side expected to pose a significantly tougher examination. The two teams had a closely fought encounter in the London leg of the Pro League leading up to the World Cup. England finished runners-up behind Belgium, while India finished eighth among the nine teams.
With both India and England eyeing the top two positions in Pool D, the outcome of their clash could have a major bearing on their respective routes to the knockout stages.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
