According to the report, tournament organisers and the Asian Hockey Federation suspended Rana Waheed after his hockey stick struck an Uzbek player on the head. His absence comes as Pakistan prepares for its third Pool B match at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The Pakistan-China match is scheduled for September 24 at 3pm Pakistan Standard Time.
Rana Waheed has featured in both of Pakistan’s opening matches at the tournament. He scored in Pakistan’s 9-0 win over Thailand, while the team followed that result with a 5-1 victory against Uzbekistan.
The 26-year-old forward is listed by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) as a member of Pakistan’s 2026 Asian Games squad. FIH records show he has also represented Pakistan in the 2026 Hockey World Cup and the 2025-26 FIH Hockey Pro League.
Pakistan and China unbeaten in Pool B
Both Pakistan and China have won their opening two Pool B matches. Pakistan defeated Thailand 9-0 and Uzbekistan 5-1, while China beat Thailand 8-1.
The Pakistan-China match is scheduled for 24 September at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium in Japan. Pakistan will face Malaysia on September 26 before completing its Pool B fixtures against Oman on September 28