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India is set to host Pakistan in the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament amid the Asia Cup and Mohsin Naqvi drama. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has confirmed that Pakistan will take part in the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament, to be staged in the state from 27 October to 5 November 2026.
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The competition will bring together six teams including India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea. League-stage matches are scheduled for Jalandhar, while the semi-finals and final will be held in Mohali. Reserve sides Oman and Bangladesh have also been named.
India to host Pakistan in Asian Champions Trophy hockey amid explosive Asia Cup-Mohsin Naqvi drama
Mann announced on Monday, noting that the event is permitted under the central government’s policy allowing multilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan. The competition is an annual event but was not held last year. Hockey India officials have indicated that arrangements are advancing, with the state government providing full support for what is being described as a landmark occasion for hockey in Punjab.
Mann said, as per PTI:
“There is no problem in multi-national tournaments.”
Mann added:
“May be individual series (India and Pakistan) cannot take place.”
Bilateral series between the two countries remain restricted. The tournament marks the first time Punjab has hosted an international hockey event. Meanwhile, free entry for spectators has been planned at both venues, and the much-anticipated India-Pakistan fixture is set for 1 November in Jalandhar.
Hockey secretary says India and Pakistan hockey federations share ‘good relations’
Hockey secretary general Bhola Nath Singh has stated that the relationship between the hockey federations of India and Pakistan is ‘excellent ’, as per a report in the Sportsstar. He added:
“I want to say this on record that we share very good relations between the hockey federations of India and Pakistan.”
This comes amid the Asia Cup trophy drama after Indian women won their record-extending eighth title, defeating Sri Lanka. The team, however, refused to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the interior minister of Pakistan. It is similar to last year's Men's Asia Cup final.
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