Pakistan captain confident ahead of India Hockey World Cup clash

Pakistan captain Abu Bakar Mahmood has said rankings will not matter when his team faces India in the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup on August 19. India, ranked higher, beat Wales 3-1 while Pakistan lost 1-4 to England. Mahmood told PTI that performance on the day will decide the winner, adding that Pakistan have come fully prepared this time.

India suffered a 2-4 defeat to England in their second Pool D match, conceding three second-half goals. Nicholas Bandurak scored twice for England, while Harmanpreet Singh and Dilpreet Singh scored for India. With three points from two matches, India must avoid defeat against Pakistan to qualify for the second round. A loss would eliminate India from the tournament.

Pakistan, four-time World Cup champions, return to the World Cup after an eight-year absence. Mahmood, who played in the 2018 World Cup as the youngest player, said he wants to share his experience with the young squad. Pakistan's last win over India was in June 2016.