Pakistan has asked the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to move its matches at the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy to a neutral venue, citing security concerns and what it described as a sensitive bilateral situation with India.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has formally requested either that the entire men’s Asian Champions Trophy be shifted out of India or that all of Pakistan’s matches be played at neutral venues. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Punjab from October 27 to November 5, with matches planned in Mohali and Jalandhar.
The request has already been rejected by Hockey India, leaving Pakistan with a decision to make over its participation in the continental hockey tournament.
PHF interim president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said the decision was taken because of the current situation between the two countries and prevailing security conditions. He said the federation wanted to ensure a safe and suitable environment for Pakistan’s players and officials.
At the same time, the PHF said Pakistan remained committed to the Asian Champions Trophy and was willing to play against India and other participating teams. The federation said its proposal was aimed at ensuring uninterrupted participation rather than withdrawing from the tournament.
Pakistan’s request comes as sporting ties between the two countries remain affected by wider bilateral tensions. The two sides have continued to compete in multinational events in some circumstances, but participation in tournaments hosted by either country has increasingly become a sensitive issue.
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who is also an AHF vice-president, said there would be no change to the tournament venue. He said Pakistan would have to travel to India if it wanted to participate.
The response effectively keeps the Asian Champions Trophy on its original schedule. No alternative venue has been announced by the AHF, and there is currently no indication that the tournament itself will be moved outside India.
The latest development also follows uncertainty over whether Pakistan had received the necessary clearance to send its team to India. Earlier reports had suggested that Pakistan would participate in the tournament, but a senior PHF official later indicated that government approval for the team’s travel had not been granted.
The issue has therefore moved beyond a simple venue request. Pakistan now has to decide whether it will travel to India under the existing arrangements or stay out of the tournament if its demand for a neutral venue is not accepted.
The Asian Champions Trophy is one of the main competitions in Asian hockey and features some of the continent’s leading teams. India and Pakistan are among the participating sides, along with Malaysia, China, Japan and South Korea.
A Pakistan withdrawal could also lead to a change in the tournament line-up. Bhola Nath Singh said Bangladesh and Oman were possible replacement teams if Pakistan decided not to participate.
That possibility adds another layer of uncertainty to preparations for the men’s hockey tournament. Teams and organisers are working towards an October 27 start, but Pakistan’s final decision could determine whether the original six-team field remains intact.
The current dispute is not entirely new. Pakistan has previously pulled out of international hockey events hosted in India, citing security concerns. In 2025, the team withdrew from the Asia Cup in Bihar and the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu.
The two hockey federations have taken different positions on the latest request. Pakistan has stressed the need for a neutral setting while maintaining that it wants to compete. Hockey India, meanwhile, has said the tournament venue will not be changed.
The AHF now faces the task of dealing with the request while preparations continue in Punjab. A decision on Pakistan’s participation will be closely watched because an India-Pakistan hockey match remains one of the most anticipated fixtures in any Asian hockey competition.
Pakistan’s proposed solution is similar to arrangements sometimes used in international sport when teams are unable or unwilling to play in each other’s countries. In this case, however, Hockey India’s position means there is currently no neutral-venue arrangement on the table.
The tournament is expected to provide an important competitive platform ahead of future international hockey assignments, making the participation of the region’s leading teams significant for the sport.
As things stand, the Asian Champions Trophy remains scheduled for Mohali and Jalandhar from October 27 to November 5. Pakistan has expressed its willingness to compete but wants its matches moved away from India. Hockey India has rejected that request, meaning the next step rests with the Pakistan Hockey Federation and the relevant authorities in Pakistan.
Until a final decision is made, the tournament organisers will have to prepare for both possibilities — Pakistan travelling to India under the existing schedule or another team being brought into the competition if Pakistan withdraws.
