Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that sending the national team to India for the Asia Cup next month poses significant security risks.
PHF President Tariq Bugti confirmed the concerns in a statement, emphasising player reluctance and the event’s role as a direct qualifier. “We have informed them that in the existing scenario, our team will face security risks playing in India,” Bugti said. He added: “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.”
Pakistan Hockey Body Unwilling To Send Team To India For Asia Cup, Citing 'Security Risk'#pakistanhockey #AsiaCupHockey https://t.co/B44EbaZasG
— NDTV Sports (@Sports_NDTV) July 21, 2025The federation has written to FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), requesting guarantees for player safety. “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,” Bugti explained. The decision now rests with FIH and AHF.
Read: Pakistan Hockey Team May Skip Asia Cup 2025 in India Over Security Threats
A senior government official has indicated that the team will not be travelling, although no official statement has been released. This decision reflects the broader tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, which are affecting sports exchanges. The participation of Pakistan in the Asia Cup, an important qualifier, now faces uncertainty.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation’s decision prioritises safety in light of geopolitical challenges, but it could impact the team’s standing in international competitions.
