Mohali, October 9,2026: Bangladesh has accepted an invitation to participate in the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy as a replacement for Pakistan after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) declined to send the national team to India amid heightened bilateral tensions.
The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) had formally invited the Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) to join the six-team tournament, scheduled to be hosted by India from October 27 to November 5.
According to sources, the AHF is expected to make an official announcement on Friday, when the tournament draw is also scheduled to be unveiled.
The competition will feature hosts India, China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Bangladesh, with matches scheduled to be played in Jalandhar and Mohali.
The PHF had requested that the tournament be shifted to a neutral venue or that Pakistan’s matches be held at a neutral location. However, Hockey India rejected the proposal, insisting that neither the schedule nor the venues would be changed.
With the PHF maintaining its position, the AHF decided to include Bangladesh in place of Pakistan.
PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said the decision not to send the national team to India was taken in view of the sensitive bilateral situation and security concerns between the two countries.
He stressed that the safety and dignity of Pakistani players and officials remained the federation’s priority.
Wani also reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Asian Champions Trophy and the development of hockey, saying the national team remained ready to compete against all International Hockey Federation (FIH) member nations, including India. He emphasized the importance of keeping sports separate from politics.
The development comes a day after Indian Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Pakistan was expected to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy.
Mann said India’s policy allowed neighboring countries to compete in multinational sporting events, although bilateral series between India and Pakistan remained restricted.
“There is no problem in multinational tournaments. Maybe individual series between India and Pakistan cannot take place,” Mann said when asked about the clearances required for Pakistan’s participation.
Organized by the AHF, the Asian Champions Trophy brings together leading national hockey teams from across the continent. India are the defending champions, having won the 2023 edition in Chennai and retained the title in 2024 in Hulunbuir, China.
Pakistan also withdrew from the Junior World Cup hockey tournament in Tamil Nadu last year, citing heightened tensions between the two countries.
