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Asia Cup hockey to go on without Pakistan, Rajgir tournament schedule confirmed
The Asian Hockey Federation has confirmed the final schedule for the 12th Asia Cup Hockey, to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 29 to September tournament will take place without former champions Pakistan, who declined to travel to India citing security concerns. Hockey India president Dilip Kumar Tirkey, speaking to ANI on Tuesday, clarified that India was ready to host Pakistan but the team opted out on its Cup is a very important tournament in Asian hockey. Pakistan is not coming due to security reasons. India never refused them; they are refusing to come all by themselves,' Tirkey said.
The Indian government had assured visas for the Pakistani players, according to Oman also withdrew from the eight-team competition. Kazakhstan replaced Oman in Pool A alongside India, Japan, and China, while Bangladesh filled Pakistan's spot in Pool B with Malaysia, Korea, and Chinese group stage will be followed by the Super Four round starting on September 3, with the top two teams from each pool participation had been in doubt ever since tensions escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. In its aftermath, India launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle terror infrastructure across the Asia Cup remains a crucial tournament in the international hockey calendar, offering the winner a direct berth to next year's World Cup in Belgium and the SCHEDULE ASIA CUP HOCKEYFriday, 29 August 202509:00 – M01, Pool B: Malaysia vs Bangladesh11:00 – M02, Pool B: Korea vs Chinese Taipei13:00 – M03, Pool A: Japan vs Kazakhstan15:00 – M04, Pool A: India vs ChinaSaturday, 30 August 202513:00 – M05, Pool B: Bangladesh vs Chinese Taipei15:00 – M06, Pool B: Korea vs MalaysiaSunday, 31 August 202513:00 – M07, Pool A: China vs Kazakhstan15:00 – M08, Pool A: Japan vs IndiaMonday, 1 September 202513:30 – M09, Pool B: Bangladesh vs Korea15:30 – M10, Pool B: Malaysia vs Chinese Taipei17:30 – M11, Pool A: China vs Japan19:30 – M12, Pool A: India vs KazakhstanTuesday, 2 September 2025 – Rest DayWednesday, 3 September 202514:30 – M13, 5/8th Place: 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B17:00 – M14, Super4s: TBC vs TBC19:30 – M15, Super4s: TBC vs TBCThursday, 4 September 202514:30 – M16, 5/8th Place: 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A17:00 – M17, Super4s: TBC vs TBCadvertisement19:30 – M18, Super4s: TBC vs TBCFriday, 5 September 2025 – Rest DaySaturday, 6 September 202514:30 – M19, 7/8th Place: Loser M13 vs Loser M1617:00 – M20, Super4s: TBC vs TBC19:30 – M21, Super4s: TBC vs TBCSunday, 7 September 202514:30 – M22, 5/6th Place: Winner M13 vs Winner M1617:00 – M23, 3/4th Place: 3rd Super4s Pool vs 4th Super4s Pool19:30 – M24, Final: 1st Super4s Pool vs 2nd Super4s PoolOn Wednesday, Hockey India named an 18-member squad, led by veteran drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh.- Ends
