Pakistan will make a final decision on whether to send its senior and junior hockey teams to India only after a thorough review of the security situation, according to a report by the Press Trust of India (PTI) published Saturday.
A senior Pakistani government official told PTI that the national teams would not travel to India if any security threats are identified. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has already sought government approval to participate in two upcoming tournaments: the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, scheduled from August 27 to September 7, and the FIH Junior World Cup, set to take place in Chennai later this year.
Rana Mashhood Khan, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Development and Sports Programme, stated that the teams will be cleared to travel only if the government is fully satisfied with the security arrangements in India.
Meanwhile, AFP reported on Saturday—citing unnamed government sources—that Pakistan has already decided not to send its teams to India due to security concerns in the wake of escalating tensions between the two countries. According to one official, the recent four-day conflict in May, which claimed at least 70 lives, has heightened fears for the safety of Pakistani players.
“After the recent war, the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk,” said a source within the Ministry of Sports, who declined to be named. The source also confirmed that Pakistan will not participate in the Junior World Cup.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office has not issued any official statement in response to AFP’s report.
The political strain has again spilled over into sports, reviving longstanding barriers to cross-border participation. Since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which India blamed on Pakistan-based militants, bilateral sporting ties have remained suspended. Cricket has been particularly affected, with the two sides now facing off only in international tournaments at neutral venues.
Earlier this year, India refused to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, prompting organizers to relocate the final — which featured India — to Dubai. In response, Pakistan has reportedly opted not to send its women’s cricket team to India for the upcoming 50-over World Cup later this year and the T20 World Cup in 2026, instead choosing Sri Lanka as their venue.
Pakistan’s last hockey visit to India was for the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, where the team placed fifth among six contenders. Once a dominant force in global hockey with three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles, Pakistan now finds itself ranked 15th in the world.
Failure to participate in the Asia Cup could also eliminate Pakistan’s chances of qualifying for next year’s Senior World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, further deepening the sport’s decline in the country.
