Pakistan’s participation in doubt, Bangladesh on standby for Asia Cup hockey

Pakistan is likely to be replaced by Bangladesh in the upcoming Men’s Asia Cup Hockey Tournament, scheduled to begin on August 29 in Rajgir, Bihar.

A top Hockey India official told PTI on Monday that if Pakistan fails to confirm its participation within the next couple of days, Bangladesh will step in as the replacement team.

The Indian government had already said that it will provide visas to the Pakistani players for Asia Cup, but the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has refused to travel citing security concerns.

The organisers have already approached Bangladesh to fill up Pakistan's place in the eight-team tournament, but Hockey India said the exact scenario will be clear in the next 48 hours.

“The Indian government has already said that it is willing to provide visas to Pakistani players, but if they don’t want to come to India, it’s not our problem. Bangladesh has already been invited to participate in case Pakistan doesn’t come, but we will have to wait for two more days to get the confirmation,” the HI official said.

“Neither Pakistan or Bangladesh have confirmed anything to us till now. But Bangladesh are likely replacement for Pakistan,” he added.

Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup—a qualifying tournament for the 2026 World Cup—was uncertain after the military confrontation with India following the Pahalgam terror attack.

India had launched Operation Sindoor to destroy terror infrastructure in Pakistan after the terror attack that killed 26 people. PHF had suggested that the tournament be moved out of India to another venue.

Besides host India, the other participating teams in the Asia Cup are China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Oman, and Chinese Taipei.