Pakistan hockey group gamers pictured throughout Asian Champions Trophy. — Fb/@asiahockey/File
The Pakistan hockey group has formally withdrawn from the upcoming Males’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in Rajgir, India, from August 27 to September 7, based on a Hockey India official.
Chatting with an Indian newspaper, the official confirmed the event and acknowledged that the Indian authorities was prepared to difficulty visas to the Pakistani contingent.
Nonetheless, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has declined to ship its group to India as a consequence of security-related considerations.
In line with the official, the PHF communicated its determination in a letter despatched to the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) on Wednesday. The letter cited safety considerations as the first motive for withdrawing from the event.
“In gentle of Pakistan’s determination, we’ve now prolonged an invite to Bangladesh to take part within the Asia Cup,” the Hockey India official added.
The official additionally claimed that visa functions for the Pakistan group have been submitted on the finish of July, elevating questions concerning the timing of the PHF’s withdrawal.
Uncertainty additionally surrounds Pakistan’s participation within the Junior Hockey World Cup, scheduled to be held in India in November-December, because the presence of Pakistan’s junior group stays uncertain.
This determination aligns with a broader coverage just lately carried out by the Pakistan Sports activities Board (PSB), which, in July, imposed a blanket ban on all nationwide sports activities federations from taking part in occasions held in India with out prior session and approval.
“Conserving in view the prevailing safety considerations, the PSB Board, in its thirty fourth assembly held on July 23, 2025, determined that no Nationwide Sports activities Federation (NSF) shall decide to taking part in any sporting occasion in India with out prior session with the Pakistan Sports activities Board,” the notification acknowledged.
Amid escalating political tensions between the 2 international locations, the Pakistani authorities additionally opted in opposition to sending its hockey group to India, citing severe security considerations for the gamers.
