Pakistan’s 1-4 defeat to England in their opening Pool D match at the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2026 was compounded by an embarrassing moment involving captain Abu Bakar Mahmood, who was shown a green card after his team failed to produce the required protective gear for a penalty corner.The bizarre incident in the 17th minute, shortly after England had taken a 1-0 lead, left former Pakistan captain Salman Akbar stunned. According to Akbar, Pakistan had forgotten the penalty-corner protective equipment in the changing room, forcing a player to sprint back to retrieve it.The delay resulted in Abu Bakar being shown a green card and spending two minutes on the sidelines. For Akbar, the incident reflected a deeper problem with preparation and organisation at the highest level of the sport.“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,” Akbar wrote on X.
‘Simply cannot happen on biggest stage’
Akbar was particularly critical of the fact that such an error occurred during a World Cup match, arguing that preparation extends well beyond tactics and physical fitness.“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,” the former captain wrote.He added: “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.”The incident came during a difficult outing for Pakistan, who eventually lost 1-4 to England. The defeat leaves them needing a strong response in their remaining Pool D matches, with India also part of the group.
