'India-Pakistan flavour will be missed': Suraj Karkera on rivals' withdrawal from ACT

Suraj Karkera reacts to Pakistan's ACT withdrawal (Image: Instagram/ @surajkarkera7)

The absence of an India-Pakistan clash may take away some of the intensity and excitement from the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) Punjab 2026, but defending champions India remain focused on retaining their title, goalkeeper Suraj Karkera has said.

With Pakistan withdrawing from the continental tournament and Bangladesh stepping in as their replacement, the Indian team will turn its attention towards continuing its dominance in Asian hockey.

Pakistan's withdrawal leaves India-Pakistan rivalry on the sidelines

Pakistan's withdrawal has ruled out a potential India-Pakistan showdown at the Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held from October 27 to November 5 across Jalandhar and Mohali in Punjab.Bangladesh have replaced Pakistan in the six-team tournament after the Pakistan Hockey Federation's participation remained subject to government clearance.

PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani had earlier indicated that the federation would follow the government's decision regarding the team's proposed visit to India.India and Pakistan share one of the most intense rivalries in international hockey, with their encounters traditionally drawing considerable attention from fans. However, the recent head-to-head record has heavily favoured India.In their last 20 meetings since 2016, India have won 18 matches, while the remaining two ended in draws.

Pakistan are yet to register a victory during that period. Their most recent encounter came in the semifinal of the 2026 Asian Games, where India edged Pakistan 4-3.

'India-Pakistan flavour will be missed' - Karkera

Karkera acknowledged that fans would miss the fierce rivalry between the two neighbours, but stressed that players have little control over decisions surrounding participation in international tournaments. The Indian team, he added, would concentrate on performing to the best of its ability.“They are a good team, and athletes never want to pull out of a tournament, but these are things beyond our control. We're just there to go and perform to the best of our ability, and I think the result will take care of itself. The India-Pakistan flavour will be missed by the people, but it is something that is way beyond our say,” Karkera told ANI.The Indian goalkeeper was speaking on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony where Chief of the Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth interacted with and felicitated Indian Army sportspersons who participated in the 2026 Asian Games.

India aim to defend Asian Champions Trophy title

With Pakistan out of the tournament, the competition will feature India, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, China and Bangladesh. India will enter as defending champions, reigning Asian Games gold medallists and the highest-ranked team in the field.

The Indian men's hockey team arrives in Punjab on the back of another successful Asian Games campaign in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where it successfully defended its gold medal with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia in the final.The triumph marked India's fifth men's hockey gold at the Asian Games, following their victories in 1966, 1998, 2014 and 2022. It also marked a historic edition for Indian hockey, as both the men's and women's teams won gold medals at the same Asian Games for the first time.India, five-time winners of the Asian Champions Trophy, will now look to carry that momentum into the continental competition and strengthen their position among Asia's leading hockey nations.