LAHORE: Pakistan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup camp November 2026 has begun in Islamabad, where the national team is preparing for one of the oldest tournaments in world hockey. The Pakistan Hockey Federation has set up a joint training camp for senior and junior players ahead of the 32nd Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup, which will be played in Ipoh, Malaysia, from November 20 to 28. Around 50 players have reported to the camp, and the next three weeks will decide who makes the final squad for the trip.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation joint camp Islamabad brings the two age groups together in one place, and that is a deliberate choice. A few senior players are still to join after finishing their foreign league commitments, but most of the squad is already in place. The camp is being run in Islamabad, and the federation hopes the shared training will push both groups. The juniors get a taste of top level intensity, and the seniors get a reminder that younger players are pushing for their places.
The Daniel Berry national hockey coach is supervising the camp, and he has set a demanding routine. Morning sessions are given to physical training and endurance, and the evenings are spent on intense gym work. The focus is on the modern game, and the coach wants his players to be fit enough to play at a high tempo for the full match. The camp is not just about fitness, though, because the technical work is just as important in the weeks before a tournament.
The technical sessions cover the parts of the game that decide tight matches. The short corner executions ball control hockey work is getting special attention, along with modern spatial positioning and high tempo tactical plans. Short corners have often been the difference for Pakistan, and the coaches want the routines to be sharp before the team reaches Malaysia. Ball control under pressure is another priority, because the modern game punishes any side that gives the ball away cheaply.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Ipoh Malaysia is one of the most respected invitational tournaments in hockey, and this year is its 32nd edition. Six top nations will take part, and the event runs from November 20 to 28. For Pakistan, the tournament is a chance to test the new mix of senior and junior players against strong opposition. The federation has not named the final squad yet, and the camp will be the main test for the players hoping to travel.
The Pakistan Canada November 20 Azlan Shah opener is already fixed, and it will set the tone for the whole tournament. Pakistan will open their campaign against Canada on November 20, before taking on the United States on November 21. Two games in two days is a tough start, and the coaches will need to manage their players carefully. A good result in the opener would give the young side confidence, while a poor start would put pressure on the rest of the group games.
The joint camp also gives the selectors a rare chance to compare players side by side. Training alongside senior players offers rising talent invaluable exposure to top tier international intensity and standards. At the same time, the presence of motivated junior prospects creates healthy internal competition, pushing senior players to maintain peak fitness and form to retain their spots. That tension is exactly what the federation wants, because a comfortable squad rarely improves.
Pakistan hockey has a proud history in the Azlan Shah Cup, and the fans will expect the team to compete hard in Ipoh. The tournament has often been a stage where new players announce themselves, and this year looks no different. The camp in Islamabad is the first step, and the final squad will be named after the selectors have seen enough. For the juniors, it is a chance to earn a place; for the seniors, it is a chance to prove they still belong.
Readers should note that the final squad has not been announced yet, and the six nations in the tournament have not all been named in the reports so far. What is certain is the schedule: the cup runs from November 20 to 28, Pakistan opens against Canada on November 20, and the United States follow a day later. The camp will run until the squad is picked, and the team will then travel to Malaysia. The next news to watch is the final squad list and the warm up plans before the first match.
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