Pakistan is set to take a major step toward reviving and transforming its national sport with the formal launch of the Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) in Islamabad on October 14, 2026.
The PHL is the latest initiative by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) as part of its efforts to improve and modernize the country’s hockey structure.
In a press release issued, the PHF said it had awarded the league rights to Mediacast following a competitive bidding process earlier this year.
The federation said the inaugural season of the PHL is planned for 2027 and is being developed along the lines of the FIH Hockey Pro League and the Indian Hockey League.
The first season is expected to feature six to eight franchise teams.
The PHF said leading international players will be contracted to play alongside Pakistani players, allowing local athletes to share the dressing room with experienced foreign professionals.
According to the federation, the league is also expected to attract private-sector participation through franchise ownership and corporate sponsorships, bringing much-needed commercial support and marketing to hockey across the country.
The PHF added that the league will provide Pakistani hockey professionals with opportunities to work alongside experienced international experts and develop expertise that could eventually benefit the broader national hockey structure.
A professionally managed league is also expected to create commercial opportunities through team ownership and partnerships, broadcasting and digital content, merchandising, advertising, hospitality, ticketing and grassroots programs.
The PHF said the main challenge is to ensure that Pakistan hockey’s rich history becomes the foundation of a modern and sustainable future rather than remaining only a source of nostalgia.
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