Pakistan pulls out of Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in India

Pakistan recently won the bronze medal at the Asian Games held in Japan. | Photo Credit: AP

Pakistan has pulled out of the Asian Champions Trophy in Jalandhar-Mohali, slated to begin later this month, citing security concerns.

“Pakistan did not get clearance from their government to come to India,” Bhola Nath Singh told Sportstar.

Pakistan has been replaced by Bangladesh. This is the second time a Pakistan hockey team has pulled out of a tournament in India. Last year, the junior men’s team pulled out of the Junior World Cup in India and was replaced by Oman.

READ | Asian Champions Trophy 2026 schedule announced

Last month, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said it wanted a neutral venue to ensure its uninterrupted and full participation in the men’s Asian Champions Trophy.

PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, in a statement, has requested to entirely shift the tournament or Pakistan’s all matches to a neutral venue.

The central sports policy with regards to Pakistan bars any bilateral engagement with the country against which India launched a brief military offensive just last year after the Pahalgam terror attack killed 26 people.

However, adhering to the Olympic Charter, the Sports Ministry has stated that the two countries can compete against each other in multi-lateral events and India would not stop athletes from across the border to play here for such engagements.