After retiring from international hockey in 2012, Abbas kept a low profile. He took up his first coaching role as an assistant coach for penalty corners with the Malaysia national team in October 2024.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation said it would not consider the trio of Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Saqlain and Waseem Ahmed for selection because they deserted the team.
The PHF also named Ghazanfar Ali as captain in place of Mohammad Saqlain, who was banned for 3 games.
The ace full-back was named in the 18-man team for the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
The drag flick ace scored a hat-trick as Pakistan beat India 3-2 in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.
The drag flick ace scored four times from penalty-corners as Pakistan won 5-3 in the Olympic hockey qualifer in Madrid.
The penalty-corner ace scored twice in a 4-2 win over Canada in the men's Olympic hockey qualifier.
The ace Pakistani drag-flicker has decided to return to international hockey and help Pakistan rediscover their winning ways.
Pakistan's penalty-corner ace, who equaled Paul Litjens's record as the leading goal scorer in hockey, says he is not in the same league as the former Dutch ace.
He is one of the most lethal drag-flickers the world has ever seen, but for Taeke Taekema Pakistan's Sohail Abbas is the 'king of penalty corners' just by the sheer magnitude of his conversion rate.
Waiting for ministry confirmation, but good decision to give Pak the nod: Tirkey
Drag flick specialist Sohail Abbas is expected to make his return to international hockey in the proposed Test series against India early next year. The 31-year-old penalty corner specialist holds the record for the highest number of goals scored in international hockey. He has scored 274 goals, surpassing Dutch legend Paul Litjens's record a few years back.
Pakistan skipper Waseem Ahmed also announced his retirement from international hockey.
Pakistan's Sohail Abbas converted two penalty corners to clear past the Kiwis 3-1 in the Champions Trophy match.
Mohammad Saqlain will lead the Pakistan side in the hockey World Cup in Germany next month.
Fourteen Pakistan hockey players, including star penalty corner specialist Sohail Abbas, have signed up for the inaugural Hockey India League to be held from January 5 to February 3 next year.
India crashed to their fourth successive defeat in the men's Olympic hockey competition, thrashed 4-1 by South Korea on Sunday. India is the only team among 12 competing at these Games without a point from five matches.
India squandered a three-goal lead and were held 3-3 by arch-rivals Pakistan in an ill-tempered match, in the double leg tri-nation hockey tournament in Busselton, Australia, on Friday.
World champions Australia showed their class with a 5-1 thrashing of Pakistan to maintain their unbeaten streak in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Ipoh on Monday.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation on Wednesday recalled senior players Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt and Zeeshan Ashraf, who had announced their retirement after the team finished bottom of the heap in the World Cup in India. The PHF also recalled Waseem Ahmed and Salman Akbar for a national camp, from June 20, in Karachi, to prepare for a tour of Europe ahead of the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
Senior players Sohail Abbas, Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi were on Wednesday dropped from the 18-member Pakistan squad for next month's Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Star Pakistani drag-flicker Sohail Abbas felt sorry for Shivendra Singh but said the FIH "must have taken a correct decision" while banning the Indian striker for two matches in the hockey World Cup
New Zealand qualified for next year's elite Champions Trophy after scoring a 4-2 win over Pakistan in the final of the Champions Challenge Hockey tournament in Salta (Argentina).
Some blamed it on over-dependence on Sohail Abbas, others felt they didn't look spirited enough as former players castigated Pakistan's hockey team for the crushing defeats to India and England in the World Cup.
The duo were left out of the squad for the twin series in Australia on disciplinary grounds.
The IHF announced the five teams to feature in the Premier Hockey League, Dhanraj Pillay to play for Maratha Warriors.
World's leading goal scorer Sohail Abbas and former Pakistan captain Waseem Ahmed will add glamour to the Premier Hockey League.
Waseem Ahmed replaces Mohammad Nadeem as the capatin of the Pakistan hockey team in the forthcoming Test series against India.
Pakistan's penalty-corner ace however said he would be available for major tournaments if the country needs him.
Pakistan beat India 2-1 as Sohail Abbas broke Mark Hagger's Champions Trophy record of 32 goals.
Penalty-corner ace Sohail Abbas, goalkeeper Ahmad Alam, forwards Shabbir Hussain and Kashif Jawad have been left out of the 16-member squad for the Afro Asian Games.
Sohail Abbas and Waseem Ahmed have been included in the squad for the Champions Trophy.
Sohail Abbas has redefined the art of playing hockey.
A Sohail Abbas' hat-trick powered the Hyderabad Sultans to a 4-2 win.
The ace drag flicker scored a hat-trick as Hyderabad Sultans crushed Bangalore Hi-Fiers 5-2 in the Tier-I Premier Hockey League match.
Len Aiyappa struck the first hat-trick of the competition as Bangalore Hi-Fliers beat Hyderabad Sultans 3-2 in a Tier I match of the Premier Hockey League.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances