PHF Asian Champions Trophy Call: Bangladesh Likely to Replace Pakistan

Asian Champions Trophy – (Staff Reporter/Web Desk) – The PHF Asian Champions Trophy decision is now clear. Pakistan will not send its national hockey team to India for the upcoming tournament, sources said on Thursday.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) took this step because of security worries. Officials feel the current tension between the two countries makes the trip unsafe.

Bangladesh is likely to replace Pakistan in the six-team event. The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) is expected to announce the change officially on Friday.

Tournament Dates and Venues

India will host the tournament from October 27 to November 5. The matches are planned for Jalandhar and Mohali.

The event is held under the Asian Hockey Federation. It is usually played every year, but no edition took place last year.

Neutral Venue Request Rejected

Before this decision, the PHF asked for a change. It wanted the whole tournament moved to a neutral venue, or at least Pakistan’s matches.

Hockey India turned down the request. It said the schedule and venues would stay the same.

After that, the PHF told the AHF that it was not willing to send the team to India under the present circumstances.

PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani explained the reason behind the move. He said the sensitive situation between the two countries and the security concerns led to the decision.

He added that the safety and dignity of the players and officials remain the first priority for the federation.

Wani also said Pakistan is still committed to the Asian Champions Trophy and to the growth of hockey. According to him, the national team is ready to play against every FIH member nation, including India.

He also stressed that sport should be kept separate from politics.

Comments from Indian Punjab

The news came one day after Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke about the matter. He had said Pakistan was expected to take part in the event.

Mann said India’s policy allows neighbouring countries to play in multinational tournaments. However, bilateral series between India and Pakistan remain restricted.

“There is no problem in multinational tournaments. Maybe individual series between India and Pakistan cannot take place,” he said when asked about clearances for Pakistan.

India will enter the tournament as the title holders. They won the 2023 edition in Chennai.

They then kept the trophy in 2024 in Hulunbuir, China.

This is not the first time Pakistan has stayed away from a hockey event in India. Last year, the team also pulled out of the Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu.

At that time too, the federation pointed to rising tension between the two countries.