Field hockey, originally brought to British India by British servicemen, quickly became a popular sport among the local population, similar to cricket. After Pakistan’s independence in 1947, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was established in 1948. Before the partition, players from what would become Pakistan competed for the Indian side.

The PHF soon organized the Provincial Hockey/Sports Associations of West Punjab, East Bengal, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Bahawalpur, and the Services Sports Board. Despite limited resources, the Pakistan national team, led by Ali Iqtidar Shah Dara, played its first international match on August 2, 1948, against Belgium, winning 2–1 at the London Olympics.

1948 London Olympics:
– Group stage:
– Belgium:Won 2–1
– Netherlands: Won 6–1
– Denmark: Won
– France: Won
– Result: 4th place

Following the Olympics, Pakistan toured Europe, remaining undefeated in matches against Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy.

1950 Spain Invitational Competition:
– Joint winners with the Netherlands after the final ended in a draw.
– This was Pakistan’s first international tournament victory.

1952 Helsinki Olympics:
– First knock-out game:
– France:Won 6–0
– Knock-out stage:
– Netherlands: Lost
-Great Britain: Lost
– Result: 4th place

Throughout these years, Pakistan toured Europe and hosted various teams, with regular matches against Malaysia and Singapore in Asia.

This period laid the foundation for Pakistan’s future successes in international hockey, demonstrating their resilience and growing prowess on the world stage.