The Pakistan Junior Hockey team put up a massive fight but ultimately missed out on the Sultan of Johor Cup final, drawing 3-3 with Australia in a high-octane encounter in Johor Bahru.

This close result meant Pakistan ended the league stage in fourth place with five points. While the juniors showcased remarkable grit to recover from an early setback, the point was not enough to propel them into the championship final.

The Australians jumped to a decisive 2-0 lead early in the game. Undeterred, the Pakistani side launched a powerful counterattack, scoring three goals over the middle period of the match to level the score at 3-3, even as Australia managed one more goal themselves.

Captain Hannan Shahid was instrumental, scoring two goals for Pakistan, while Saifullah secured the point with the final goal. The result mirrors the team’s equally gripping 3-3 draw against arch-rivals India earlier in the competition.