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News18
an hour ago
- Sport
- News18
Pakistan Hockey Team Invited To Join FIH Pro League After New Zealand Withdrawal
Last Updated: New Zealand withdrew from the FIH Hockey Pro League Men's 2025–26 season, prompting the FIH to invite runners-up Pakistan, who must confirm participation by August 12. Following New Zealand's decision to withdraw from the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League Men's 2025–26 season—despite having secured victory in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup last month—the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has extended an invitation to the tournament runners-up, Pakistan, in accordance with its regulations. The Pakistan Hockey Association has been given a deadline of August 12 to confirm whether they will accept or decline the invitation. The recently concluded 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League saw both Dutch national teams—men's and women's—claim the championship titles. The forthcoming season will mark the seventh edition of the league. India has suspended all bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which it attributed to Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan's last visit to India was for the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, where they finished fifth out of six competing teams. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated significantly in May during a four-day conflict that resulted in 70 fatalities, marking the worst violence between the two nations in decades. Pakistan had been scheduled to participate in the Asia Cup, set to be hosted in India next month. However, participation is now uncertain as the Pakistan Hockey Federation awaits government clearance to travel. 'After the recent war, the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk," a source from Pakistan's sports ministry told AFP. The same source confirmed that Pakistan would also skip the Junior World Cup, scheduled to be held in India this November. Once a dominant powerhouse in international hockey—with three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles—Pakistan has since declined to 15th in the global rankings. Pakistan's potential absence from the Asia Cup could jeopardize their qualification for the 2026 senior World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. A second government official confirmed the decision to AFP. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 19:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
11 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
Pakistan Hockey Federation unlikely to send team to India for Asia Cup, due to...
Pakistan Hockey team The Pakistan Hockey federation has informed the International Hockey Federation that they won't send the team to India for the Asia Cup next month, citing 'security concerns' PHF President Tariq Bugti said that they have written to both the FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), over sending team to India. 'We have informed them that in the existing scenario, our team will face security risks playing in India,' he said. 'We have informed them our players are also not keen to travel to India for the Asia Cup which is also a direct qualifying tournament,' he added. The PHF said that now the decision is with the FIH and AHF to take the final call over the event and Pakistan's matches. 'We have asked them to let us know what guarantee is there that our players will be safe in India and will be able to focus on the tournament,' he said. Tariq Bugti cites security concerns for not sending the team to India Although the Pakistani government has not yet released an official statement on the matter, a senior government official recently declared that the team would not visit India. Following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in April, tensions between the neighboring nations grew, leading India to launch airstrikes that destroyed hostile elements threatening the country's security. Although a ceasefire was reached after several days of conflict, the damage to mutual trust appears to be irreparable, with numerous sporting events subsequently affected. Indian Sports Ministry has granted permission to Pakistan hockey team to play in India The Pakistani hockey team has been given permission by the Indian Sports Ministry to compete in the Asia Cup, which is being held in India. The ministry clarified that it has no issues with any team participating in international competitions hosted in India, according to media reports. It did, however, insist that India and Pakistan would not participate in any bilateral athletic events. Since the Pahalgam attack in April, which killed 26 civilians, tensions between the two countries have been high. Since the Asia Cup started in 2011, India has emerged victorious five times. South Korea's only victory came in Dhaka in 2021, while Pakistan has won the championship three times.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Pakistan hockey body unwilling to send team to India for Asia Cup
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has informed the sport's global governing body FIH that it will be "difficult" for them to send a team to India for the Asia Cup next month because of "security concerns". Tariq Bugti, who heads the PHF, said they had written to the FIH and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), expressing their reservations over sending the team to India. "We have informed them that in the existing scenario, our team will face security risks playing in India," he said. "We have informed them our players are also not keen to travel to India for the Asia Cup which is also a direct qualifying tournament," he added. The PHF chief said the ball is now in the court of the FIH and AHF to decide about the event and Pakistan's matches. "We have asked them to let us know what guarantee is there that our players will be safe in India and will be able to focus on the tournament," he said. The Pakistan government is yet to come out with an official statement on the issue but recently a senior government official said the team would not travel to India.
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
'Not Keen To Travel To India For Asia Cup', Pakistan Hockey Federation Chief Tells FIH
Last Updated: Tariq Bugti shared PHF's reservation about travelling to India, citing the tense relationship between the countries. The Pakistan Hockey Federation has intimated the FIH that it would be difficult to send their national team across the border to Indian for the upcoming Asia Cup, due to security reasons. PHF head Tariq Bugti shared the governing body's concerns about travelling to India, citing the tense relationship between the countries following the armed conflict between the nations earlier in the year. Bugti revealed that the PHF had informed the FIH about their position ahead of the continental tournament, which also doubles as a qualifier to the FIH World Cup next year. 'We have informed them that in the existing scenario, our team will face security risks playing in India," Bugti said. 'We have informed them our players are also not keen to travel to India for the Asia Cup which is also a direct qualifying tournament," he added. Bugti added that the onus to provide security for the side rests with the FIH and the AHF for the safe passage and return of the players. 'We have asked them to let us know what guarantee is there that our players will be safe in India and will be able to focus on the tournament," he added. view comments First Published: July 21, 2025, 12:11 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Pakistan hockey body tells FIH it is not willing to send team to India for Asia Cup
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has informed the sport's global governing body FIH that it will be "difficult" for them to send a team to India for the Asia Cup next month because of "security concerns". Tariq Bugti, who heads the PHF, said they had written to the FIH and Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), expressing their reservations over sending the team to India. "We have informed them that in the existing scenario, our team will face security risks playing in India," he said. "We have informed them our players are also not keen to travel to India for the Asia Cup which is also a direct qualifying tournament," he added. The PHF chief said the ball is now in the court of the FIH and AHF to decide about the event and Pakistan's matches. "We have asked them to let us know what guarantee is there that our players will be safe in India and will be able to focus on the tournament," he said. The Pakistan government is yet to come out with an official statement on the issue but recently a senior government official said the team would not travel to India.
