Web Desk: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has officially confirmed its decision to withdraw from the upcoming Hockey Asia Cup. The move follows what the PHF described as serious security threats from extremist groups and a lack of sufficient assurances from Indian authorities. Tournament set to held in (Rajgir) India from 29 August to 07 September 2025
Rana Mujahid, Secretary of the PHF, explained the federation’s stance, stating, “Pakistan has always had reservations about playing in India, and those concerns still remain. Our top priority is the safety of our players.”
He further criticized the Indian government for not providing the level of security assurance Pakistan required. According to the PHF, the decision was communicated in advance to both the Indian Hockey Federation and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).
However, Mujahid pointed out a lack of transparency from the AHF, revealing that Pakistan was not informed about the subsequent invitation extended to Bangladesh to take its place in the tournament.
With Pakistan's withdrawal, the tournament will now feature eight teams: India, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Oman, Chinese Taipei, and Bangladesh.
Mujahid emphasized that the PHF is bound by the policies of the Pakistani government and must act accordingly in matters of international participation.
Despite this setback, he expressed optimism about Pakistan’s future in global competitions, confirming that the team still has other opportunities to qualify for the Hockey World Cup.
