For the first time in history, Pakistan will not feature in the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament, set to begin in Rajgir, Bihar, India, on Friday. The decision comes amid heightened security concerns, three months after the two nuclear-armed neighbours narrowly avoided a full-scale war on their shared border.
The eight-nation continental tournament will now see Bangladesh replacing Pakistan in Group B. Pakistan’s withdrawal was confirmed last week by Hockey India (HI) President Dilip Kumar Tirkey, who stated that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had raised safety concerns for its players.
“Pakistan is not coming to this tournament due to security concerns,” Tirkey told ANI news agency, while clarifying that India had not barred Pakistan from participating. Reports suggest that the PHF officially communicated its decision to both HI and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) earlier in August.
Missed Opportunity for Pakistan
Pakistan, once a hockey powerhouse and a three-time Asia Cup champion, last lifted the trophy in 1989. The country’s exit not only sidelines them from the 2025 edition but also severely hurts their chances of making it to the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands.
Under the qualification format, the Asia Cup winner earns a direct World Cup berth, while teams ranked 2nd to 6th move into qualifiers. With Pakistan currently placed 15th in the FIH world rankings, their path to the World Cup now looks uncertain.
India and Regional Rivals Eye Glory
Hosts India, the defending Asian Champions Trophy winners, will now aim to secure continental dominance and confirm their spot at the World Cup. Defending Asia Cup champions South Korea are also expected to be strong contenders, alongside Malaysia, Japan, China, Kazakhstan, and Chinese Taipei.
The rivalry between India and Pakistan in hockey is historic. Both nations dominated the sport until the early 1990s, together winning 11 Olympic gold medals and five World Cups. However, their political rivalry has often spilled onto the sporting stage, affecting fixtures and bilateral tournaments.
The last meeting between the two sides came during the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy, where India edged Pakistan 2-1 and went on to win the title.
FAQs
Q1: Why did Pakistan withdraw from the Asia Cup Hockey 2025?
Pakistan pulled out citing security concerns for its players traveling to India.
Q2: Who has replaced Pakistan in the tournament?
Bangladesh has taken Pakistan’s place in Group B of the competition.
Q3: When did Pakistan last win the Asia Cup?
Pakistan last won the Asia Cup in 1989.
Q4: How does Pakistan’s withdrawal affect their World Cup qualification?
By skipping the Asia Cup, Pakistan loses the chance to qualify directly for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, making their path to the event highly uncertain.
Q5: Where is the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup being held?
The 2026 Hockey World Cup will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands in August 2026.
