Despite a challenging recent history against their arch-rivals, Pakistan’s captain, Abu Bakar Mahmood, boldly asserted that past results and current standings would hold little sway in their upcoming FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup encounter against India. Even as India, currently ranked higher and boasting a recent 3-1 victory over Wales, contrasts sharply with Pakistan’s 1-4 defeat to England, Mahmood emphasized that the true determinant of the outcome would be the performance delivered on match day. He candidly admitted India’s superior ranking but underscored that in the context of an India-Pakistan clash, such numbers become irrelevant, with the decisive factor being which team exhibits greater prowess when it truly matters.
Pakistan’s pursuit of a victory over India has been a prolonged one, with their last triumph dating back to June 2016, a 4-3 win in the Champions Trophy held in London. Since then, India has consistently maintained an advantage, most notably securing 4-3 and 7-1 victories in the recent London leg of the FIH Pro League. However, Mahmood remains convinced that Pakistan’s meticulous preparations will enable them to fiercely challenge their higher-ranked opponents. He graciously acknowledged India’s impressive achievements, including their distinction as the sole Asian team to secure medals in two consecutive Olympics, recognizing this as a positive development for Asian hockey. Yet, he firmly stated that Pakistan has also arrived at the World Cup thoroughly prepared and ready for the challenge.
The team’s return to the World Cup stage after an eight-year hiatus was preceded by a demanding Pro League campaign, where they finished at the bottom, in ninth place, having lost all their matches. Mahmood clarified that this experience was primarily a learning endeavor, aimed at gaining crucial exposure against the world’s elite teams. He highlighted their improved ranking, moving from 14th to 12th globally, as a testament to the valuable insights gained. He further explained that the Pro League served as a crucial testing ground for new strategies, emphasizing that their objective was not to win the title but to re-acclimate themselves to playing against top-tier opposition, an experience they had been deprived of for some time. The captain expressed confidence that their World Cup performance would be a clear reflection of the lessons absorbed.
Pakistan’s aspirations to revive their storied legacy in the sport are driven by a relatively young squad. The team also navigated a significant coaching transition shortly before the World Cup, with Dutch head coach Herman Kruis departing and goalkeeping coach Bob-Johan Veldhof assuming charge. Mahmood lauded the dedicated efforts of the support staff, including Coach Adnan Zakir and Bob, whose tireless work over the preceding month had a palpable positive impact on the team, yielding noticeable improvements. He outlined the team’s immediate goals, aiming to surprise opponents and consistently deliver strong performances, with their sights set on achieving a place in the Asian Games and, ideally, reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Despite Mahmood and former captain Ammad Butt being the only members of the current squad with prior World Cup experience, the 28-year-old captain does not perceive this as a significant weakness. He pointed out that the core of the Pakistan team has largely remained consistent over the past two to three years, with only minor personnel changes. He also noted that several players are on the cusp of reaching their 100th international cap, signifying a depth of experience within the squad. Having participated in the 2018 World Cup in India as the youngest player at just 19, Mahmood now embraces the responsibility of mentoring the new generation. He expressed his enjoyment of challenges and his hope for a successful tournament for both himself and his team. He articulated his desire to share the invaluable knowledge and insights he gained from senior players and Olympians with the younger members of his current team. As four-time World Cup champions, Pakistan is fiercely determined to uphold their historical prominence in the tournament. Mahmood affirmed their collective ambition to preserve this remarkable legacy, ensuring that Pakistan continues to be recognized at the pinnacle of international hockey.
