Former Pakistan hockey group captain and Olympic gold medalist Hanif Khan throughout a latest interview with Geo Information in Lahore on July 11, 2025. – Geo Information
LAHORE: Former Pakistan hockey group captain and Olympic gold medalist Hanif Khan has known as for the relocation of the upcoming Asia Cup Hockey event from India, citing critical safety considerations and strained bilateral relations.
In a dialog with Geo Information, Khan expressed deep concern over the present state of affairs in India following its latest navy battle, suggesting it’s not protected for Pakistani athletes to journey there.
“After the latest struggle defeat, the state of affairs in India just isn’t good. There’s widespread panic. In such circumstances, the Pakistan hockey group shouldn’t journey to India,” stated Hanif.
“The safety state of affairs is unsatisfactory. India shouldn’t be trusted. What assure is there for the security of our gamers?” he questioned.
He proposed that the event be held in a impartial and safer location, such because the UAE or Malaysia.
“The Asia Cup Hockey event needs to be held within the UAE or Malaysia. Pakistan has by no means created obstacles in sports activities; it has at all times been India that brought about disruptions. Why would India cease us? We ourselves ought to select to not go,” he acknowledged.
The Olympic gold medalist appealed on to Pakistan’s prime management, urging them to rethink sending the group.
“We request the Prime Minister and President of Pakistan to not ship the group to India. India created hurdles in cricket issues, and now they’re doing the identical in hockey. India makes use of each tactic attainable to wreck Pakistan’s picture on this planet. Till Pakistan-India relations enhance, Pakistani groups shouldn’t journey to India,” he concluded.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, additionally weighed in on the problem, stating that Pakistan’s participation within the Asia Cup could be conditional upon thorough analysis of India’s safety preparations.
In an unique interview with Geo Information, Mashhood acknowledged, “We’ll analyse the safety preparations for the Asia Cup in India.”
“If we weren’t happy with the preparations, we is not going to put the Pakistan group at risk,” he added.
The remarks come amid reviews from Indian media suggesting that the Indian authorities is prone to allow Pakistan’s participation within the Asia Cup, set to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7.
An Indian sports activities ministry supply commented on the problem, saying, “We aren’t in opposition to any group competing in India in a multi-national competitors. If we attempt to cease Pakistan, it could be seen as a violation of the Olympic Constitution. However bilateral is completely different, and there will likely be no rest on that entrance.”
“Worldwide sports activities calls for that we can’t again out from competing in multi-national competitions. Take as an example, Russia and Ukraine-they are at struggle, but they flip up for occasions and compete. The identical precept applies right here,” the official added.
Following the Asia Cup, India can be scheduled to host the FIH Males’s Junior Hockey World Cup from November 28 to December 10, with matches to be performed in Chennai and Madurai.
Sohail Imran is a senior reporter for Geo Information.
