Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a huge prize for the Pakistan hockey team after reaching the final of the recently held Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024.
Shehbaz Sherif announced $1 million for each player after their impressive performances throughout the tournament.
After the match ended 2-2 in normal time, Pakistan lost to Japan 4-1 on penalties. The Japanese goalkeeper made two fine saves in the penalty shootout to keep the Green Shirt’s title hopes alive.
The Pakistan team returned to the country on Sunday and received a hero’s welcome at the Lahore airport where Prime Minister’s Youth Program chief Rana Masood, former captain Chaudhry Akhtar Rasool, Mohammad Saqlain and Anjum Saeed and other former players were present.
Note that after both teams have scored two goals at the end of full time, the final must be decided in a shootout.
Japan took the lead through Ryoma Oka, and his teammates kept pace and netted the other three.
Meanwhile, Pakistan missed the first two, with Ammad Butt netting in the third over.
After Pakistan scored two goals in the third quarter, Japan came back to tie the score at 2-2. Kazumasa Matsumoto scored the second goal in the 47th minute.
Pakistan came from behind after Ajaz Ahmed scored in the 34th minute of the third quarter and Abdul Rehman scored in the 37th minute.
Seren Tanaka scored Japan’s first goal in the 12th minute to take the lead.
It is worth noting that Pakistan has reached the final for the first time in the last 13 years.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2024 concluded its round-robin matches against Japan and Pakistan on Friday as they remained unbeaten in their two round-robin matches.
Japan has won four matches and collected only 1 point to remain at the top with 13 points, while Pakistan is second with 11 points.
