In a major development ahead of the 2026 Asian Champions Trophy, Pakistan has formally declined to travel to India for the upcoming tournament. Pakistani media outlets report that the country's hockey board has officially petitioned the Asian Hockey Federation to relocate their fixtures to a neutral ground. Clarifying their stance on international participation, the PHF President emphasized that Pakistan remains open to competing against any FIH-affiliated nation, including India, provided the matches are hosted on neutral soil.
Pakistan urge AHF to move Champions Trophy out of India
This decision follows statements issued by the PHF just hours earlier, which revealed that the national squad had not yet secured the required government clearance to cross the border and take part in the Indian-hosted event.
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Slated for October 27 through November 5, the Asian Champions Trophy is set to take place across two host cities in Punjab: Mohali and Jalandhar.
Addressing recent statements from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann regarding Pakistan’s presence at the event, a senior Pakistan Hockey Federation official firmly denied that any official confirmation had been provided. He emphasized that both nations currently enforce strict government oversight, requiring explicit state permission before any sports delegation can travel across the border for multi-nation tournaments.
The official outlined that securing federal approval remains the mandatory first step before initiating the visa application process. He pointed to historical precedent, noting that past difficulties with the Indian High Commission over visa issuance for Pakistani players and officials make early political clearance all the more critical.
The upcoming tournament is scheduled to feature a six-team field comprising India, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Japan, and South Korea. Pakistan previously opted out of the Asia Cup held in India due to heightened geopolitical friction between the two neighbors.
India vs Pakistan drama continues
This potential withdrawal marks the third occasion in recent memory that Pakistan has chosen not to compete in an event hosted on Indian soil. Their absence follows a similar pattern from the previous year, when they opted out of both the 2025 Hockey Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, and the subsequent Junior Men's Hockey World Cup staged in Tamil Nadu.
To mitigate such disruptions, tournament organizers previously designated Oman and Bangladesh as contingency entries. When Pakistan stood down from past competitions, Bangladesh stepped in as the replacement side for the Asia Cup, while Oman filled the vacant spot for the Junior World Cup. Despite skipping events hosted across the border, the two arch-rivals did clash on neutral turf during the recent Men's Hockey World Cup. In that encounter, India secured bragging rights by prevailing 5-3 in a high-scoring contest.