Australia’s Melbourne Cobras have signed Pakistan hockey captain Abubakar Mahmood ahead of Hockey One Season 6, bringing the defender into the league following his appearance at the 2026 Asian Games.
The club announced the signing on Instagram, describing Mahmood as the latest addition to its growing South Asian representation.
Abubakar Mahmood is a Pakistani hockey defender and drag flicker who currently captains the national side. He made his international debut for Pakistan’s Under-21 team in 2014 and spent the next three years with that squad, winning two silver medals along the way.
He stepped up to the senior national team in 2017 and represented Pakistan at several major tournaments since. Mahmood was named Pakistan’s captain ahead of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup earlier this year, leading the side at the tournament in that role.
The Melbourne Cobras are one of the newest additions to the Hockey One League, joining as the competition’s eighth franchise after being awarded a licence earlier this year.
Hockey One is Australia’s national club hockey competition, bringing together the country’s top domestic players alongside international recruits across men’s and women’s divisions in cities around the country.
