Pakistan has withdrawn from the men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament to be held in India, citing security concerns, with Bangladesh named as its replacement in the six-team field.
The tournament is scheduled from October 27 to November 5 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. India, the defending champions, open their campaign against Bangladesh on October 27, with the final set for November 5 in Mohali.
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh told Sportstar that "Pakistan did not get clearance from their government to come to India". Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani had earlier requested that Pakistan's matches be staged at a neutral venue.
Third withdrawal in a row
This is the third time a Pakistan hockey team has pulled out of a tournament hosted by India. Last year, the senior team skipped the Asia Cup in Rajgir and the junior men's team stayed away from the Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai. Pakistan's absence from continental events in India has become a recurring feature of the fixture calendar.
The revised line-up for the tournament is India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh.
Sources:
- Sportstar: Pakistan pulls out of Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in India
- Economic Times: Pakistan pulls out of Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 to be held in Punjab
- The Statesman: Pakistan pull out of Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab
The tournament is scheduled from October 27 to November 5 at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. India, the defending champions, open their campaign against Bangladesh on October 27, with the final set for November 5 in Mohali.
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh told Sportstar that "Pakistan did not get clearance from their government to come to India". Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani had earlier requested that Pakistan's matches be staged at a neutral venue.
Third withdrawal in a row
This is the third time a Pakistan hockey team has pulled out of a tournament hosted by India. Last year, the senior team skipped the Asia Cup in Rajgir and the junior men's team stayed away from the Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai. Pakistan's absence from continental events in India has become a recurring feature of the fixture calendar.
The revised line-up for the tournament is India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh.
Sources:
- Sportstar: Pakistan pulls out of Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in India
- Economic Times: Pakistan pulls out of Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 to be held in Punjab
- The Statesman: Pakistan pull out of Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab
