NEW DELHI (Aug 18): With just nine days left for the Asia Cup men’s hockey tournament in Rajgir, Pakistan’s participation remains in limbo, and Bangladesh has been approached to step in as a replacement, according to PTI.
This will be the 12th edition of the Asia Cup and the third time India is hosting the event. Despite the Indian government confirming that visas would be issued for Pakistani players, the Pakistan Hockey Federation has declined to travel, citing security concerns.
A Hockey India official said the situation should be clarified within the next two days. “The Indian government has already said that it is willing to provide visas to Pakistani players, but if they don’t want to come to India, it’s not our problem. Bangladesh has already been invited to participate if Pakistan does not come,” the official noted.
Pakistan’s participation was cast into doubt following a military confrontation with India after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which killed 26 people. India later launched Operation Sindoor to strike terror infrastructure in Pakistan. The Pakistan Hockey Federation had demanded the tournament be shifted to another venue, but the request was rejected.
Besides India, the other confirmed participants are China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Oman, and Chinese Taipei. The tournament is also a qualifier for next year’s World Cup.
Pakistan has a storied history in the Asia Cup, winning the first three editions (1982, 1985, 1989) and finishing runners-up in 1989, 2003, and 2009. In the previous edition in 2022 in Jakarta, Pakistan finished third in their pool, missing the semifinals but managing a 1-1 draw against arch-rivals India.
If Bangladesh confirms participation, it would join the lineup as the eighth team, ensuring a full field despite Pakistan’s likely absence.