Pakistan Face India Without Pressure, Says Assistant Coach

AMSTELVEEN: (Sports Reporter) – Pakistan assistant coach Adnan Zaker says the national team will enter Wednesday’s crucial Hockey World Cup clash against arch-rivals India without pressure and with everything to gain.

Pakistan will face India at Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen on August 19, with the match carrying major significance for both teams’ hopes of advancing from Pool D.

Speaking to Geo News, Zaker acknowledged India’s greater investment in hockey, including a large coaching setup, but insisted the contest could be evenly matched on the day.

He said Pakistan had nothing to lose while the greater pressure would be on India.

Pakistan captain Abu Bakar said the team had already faced India twice during the Pro League and would use those experiences to correct mistakes made in those encounters. He expressed confidence that Pakistan could deliver a much-improved performance at the World Cup.

Striker Rana Waheed also backed Pakistan to challenge their traditional rivals. He acknowledged that the team had been disappointed after failing to beat Wales but said the players remained confident of defeating India.

Pakistan head coach Bob-Johan Veldhof described India as a strong opponent and acknowledged the significance of the fixture. He said defeating India and securing qualification for the next stage would represent a major achievement for Pakistan.

The match is particularly important because India need at least a draw to advance, while Pakistan face elimination unless they win.

Pakistan’s recent record against India has favoured their rivals, including two defeats in the latest Pro League meetings. However, the Pakistani camp believes those matches provided valuable lessons that can be applied in Wednesday’s high-pressure encounter.

Pakistan returned to the Hockey World Cup in 2026 after missing the previous edition and are competing in Pool D alongside India, England and Wales.