Triple-double king Russell Westbrook announces retirement

  Pakistan hockey team captain Abu Bakar has expressed confidence that the national side can deliver a strong performance at the upcoming Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands. Speaking to the media before the team’s departure for the Netherlands, the newly appointed captain said he was not feeling any pressure because of the responsibility of leading the national team. He added that all the players were united and fully focused on achieving their objectives in the tournament. Abu Bakar said the team had discussed its targets with senior players and that everyone was on the same page regarding the World Cup campaign. According to him, players including Imad Butt, Hannan Shahid and Sufyan Khan had made it clear that the team’s first objective was to qualify for the top four. “Our first target is to reach the top four, and after that, we want to stand on the victory podium,” Abu Bakar said, highlighting the team’s ambition to compete for a medal rather than simply participate in the tournament. The captain also spoke about Pakistan’s highly anticipated clash with arch-rivals India. He said the World Cup encounter would be completely different from the matches played between the two sides in the FIH Pro League. While the players are familiar with each other from previous international competitions, Abu Bakar believes the pressure and significance of a World Cup match will make the contest much more challenging. “Compared to the Pro League, the World Cup match against India will be completely different,” he said. Despite the intensity surrounding the Pakistan-India rivalry, Abu Bakar remained confident about his team’s chances. He said Pakistan would make every possible effort to defeat India and secure an important victory in the tournament. The captain also praised the support and unity within the national squad. He said the senior players were playing an important role in supporting one another and helping the younger members of the team deal with the demands of international hockey. According to Abu Bakar, the team’s positive environment has helped the players remain focused on their goals. He stressed that captaincy was not an individual responsibility and that success would depend on the collective efforts of the entire squad. Pakistan will enter the World Cup with high expectations as the team looks to restore its position among the world’s leading hockey nations. The players are expected to face strong competition from some of the best teams in international hockey, making every match crucial to their campaign. For Abu Bakar, the tournament will also be an important test of his leadership as he takes charge of the national side. However, his comments suggest that he is confident in both his teammates and their preparations. With the squad united around the goal of reaching the top four, Pakistan will hope to produce consistent performances throughout the competition. The team will aim to go beyond the initial target and finish the tournament on the victory podium. As the players leave for the Netherlands, Abu Bakar’s message is clear: there is no room for fear or pressure. The team wants to compete strongly, support one another and give its best against every opponent, particularly India. Pakistan hockey fans will now be hoping that the captain and his teammates can turn their confidence and determination into results on the field and make a deep run in the World Cup.

  Pakistan’s stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha has backed the return of Babar Azam, expressing confidence that the experienced batter can provide a much-needed boost to the team’s struggling batting lineup. His comments came after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat against England in the opening Test at Headingley on Friday. England completely dominated the match and secured an innings-and-103-run victory, taking control of the Test series. Pakistan struggled throughout the game, particularly with the bat, as they were dismissed for just 171 runs in their first innings before being bowled out for 135 in the second. In contrast, England produced a strong batting performance, posting 409 runs in their first innings. Pakistan’s bowlers were unable to take full advantage of the helpful conditions, while England’s players maintained pressure throughout the match. Ollie Robinson was named Player of the Match after an impressive bowling display in which he claimed eight wickets. Speaking after the match, Salman Ali Agha acknowledged that England had been the superior team and admitted that Pakistan had made several costly mistakes. “England have outplayed us,” Salman said, emphasizing that the team’s inexperienced batting unit needed to become more consistent, especially when playing in challenging overseas conditions. The Pakistan captain also defended his fast bowlers despite their failure to capitalize on the moisture and overcast conditions at Headingley. He pointed out that the pace attack had performed well during Pakistan’s previous tour of the West Indies and believed the conditions in England should have suited them. According to Salman, Pakistan have bowlers capable of reaching speeds of around 140 kilometers per hour, but they were unable to produce their best performances in the first Test. He insisted that he continued to have faith in the bowling unit and said the team would work on correcting its mistakes before the next match. Despite the disappointing result, Salman praised the individual efforts of Ali Usman and Abdullah Shafique. He was particularly pleased with Usman’s bowling performance in difficult conditions and also highlighted Shafique’s determination with the bat. Looking ahead to the next Test, Salman believes the potential return of Babar Azam could significantly improve Pakistan’s batting. Babar’s experience and ability to perform under pressure could provide stability to a lineup that struggled against England’s bowling attack. “Hopefully Babar will come back in the next match and his presence will give a boost to our batting,” Salman said. Pakistan will now look to learn from their mistakes and make a strong comeback in the next Test. With Babar Azam potentially returning to the playing XI, the team will hope that his experience can help strengthen the batting order and give Pakistan a better chance of challenging England in the remainder of the series.