Pakistan Withdraws from Upcoming Hockey Tournaments in India Over Security Concerns

A second government source also confirmed the decision, while Pakistan’s Foreign Office has yet to issue an official comment.

By DTD- On Jul 12, 2025

Karachi: Pakistan has decided not to send its national hockey teams to India for upcoming international tournaments, citing security concerns in the aftermath of recent cross-border tensions, government sources confirmed to AFP on Saturday.

The decision affects Pakistan’s participation in both the Men’s Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in India in August and September, and the Junior World Cup, set for November. Officials from the Ministry of Sports, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the safety of players could not be guaranteed following the deadly four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May, which claimed 70 lives.

“After the recent war, the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk,” a ministry official said.

The development deals a significant blow to Pakistan’s already struggling hockey program. Once a dominant force in world hockey, with three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles, Pakistan is now ranked 15th globally. Missing the Men’s Asia Cup may cost Pakistan a spot in the 2026 Hockey World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium.

A second government source also confirmed the decision, while Pakistan’s Foreign Office has yet to issue an official comment.

This is not the first instance of strained sporting ties between the two countries. India suspended all bilateral sports engagements with Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which it blamed on Pakistani-based militants. Since then, both nations have only faced each other in neutral venues during international tournaments.

Earlier this year, India refused to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, leading to the final being relocated to a neutral venue in Dubai.

In a reciprocal move, Pakistan will also not send its women’s cricket team to India for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026. Instead, Pakistan has agreed to play their matches at neutral venues in Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s hockey team last toured India in 2023 for the Asian Champions Trophy, finishing fifth among six teams. With tensions still high, sporting engagements between the two neighbours appear increasingly uncertain.