Pakistan refuses to travel to India, requests neutral venue for Men's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026

The Pakistan Hockey Federation has declined to permit its national team to travel to India for the Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 and has formally asked the Asian Hockey Federation to relocate Pakistan’s matches from the event being staged in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, 2026. The PHF’s request followed a Punjab government announcement that Pakistan was due to play India in Jalandhar on November 1.

PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said the decision was driven by concerns for player and official safety, issuing a statement that “The decision has been taken in view of the current sensitive bilateral situation between Pakistan and India and the prevailing security conditions, with the aim of ensuring a safe, dignified and conducive environment for the national players and officials.” Wani added that Pakistan was willing to face other nations, saying, “We are ready to play against all FIH member countries, including India,” and he reiterated on September 14 that “The visit of the Pakistan team will depend on government clearance. We will do whatever the government asks us to do.”

Six teams are entered in the tournament: Pakistan, India, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea.

Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who is also an Asian Hockey Federation vice-president, has rejected the PHF’s neutral-venue request and asserted there will be no change to the schedule. Singh was quoted to PTI as saying, “No such request would be entertained. There will be no change in venue. In the past also Pakistan did this. If they want to play in Asian Champions Trophy they will have to come to India.”

Singh also said Hockey India has contingency plans should Pakistan withdraw, stating, “We have two teams in Bangladesh and Oman who can take Pakistan’s place.”

The PHF noted that security concerns have previously led Pakistan to decline trips to India: the team withdrew from the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu last year and also skipped the Asia Cup, both times citing similar security worries.

Whether Pakistan will participate in India, skip the tournament entirely, or have its matches moved to a neutral venue now depends on how the Asian Hockey Federation responds to the PHF’s request in the coming weeks.