The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) wants the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to guarantee visas for its contingent to participate in the Asia Cup to be held in India from August 27 to September 7, a PHF official said. Pakistan's participation in the tournament to be held in Rajgir (Bihar) is in serious doubt due to tension between the two countries after the Pahalgam terror attack, and Hockey India (HI) has said it is awaiting government consultation on the matter.

What did Hockey India say?

HK Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh said, "It is too early to say anything, but we will follow the government's instructions on this issue as has been done in the past. We cannot predict anything right now after the recent barbaric attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor launched by India."

Why is the Asia Cup important?

A senior PHF official said the Asia Cup is important for Pakistan as it is a qualifying tournament for the men's World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium next year. The official said, 'We do not want to lose the opportunity to go to the World Cup through the Asia Cup. So we believe that a solution to this could be that the event is shifted from India or the AHF guarantees visas for our team.'

PHF is afraid
The PHF official said that there will be World Cup qualifying tournaments in early 2026, but the Asia Cup is a good chance to qualify. Pakistan could not qualify for the last World Cup held in India in 2023. India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China, Malaysia, Oman, and Chinese Taipei are going to participate in the 12th season of the continental tournament. If Pakistan does not get permission to come to India, then the tournament can be organized with seven teams or a new team in place of Pakistan. However, this decision will be completely in the hands of the Asian Hockey Federation. Earlier in 2016, Pakistan did not participate in the Junior World Cup held in India, a few months after the terrorist attack on the Pathankot 'Air Base'. Malaysia replaced the Pakistani team in this tournament.

The Asian Hockey Federation will decide.

A source in Hockey India said, "If the government does not allow the Pakistani team to travel to India, then it will not come to India. It all depends on the government's position at that time." The official said on the condition of anonymity, "It is very difficult to predict right now whether a new team will be included in such a situation or it will be a seven-team tournament. Asian Hockey Federation will decide on this."

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