The International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced on Friday that Pakistan had withdrawn from the Junior Hockey World Cup, which will take place in India in November and December.
Pakistan’s replacement team for the November 28–December 28 competition, which will take place in Chennai and Madurai, will be revealed shortly, according to FIH.
“We can confirm that the Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 won’t participate eventually,” a PTI report quoted a statement from FIH.
“The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon,” the statement added.
Along with India, Chile, and Switzerland, Pakistan was assigned to Group B; it is unclear who team will take their position.
After the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament in Rajgir, Bihar, earlier this year, Pakistan has now withdrawn from two Indian events.
Since the Pahalgam terror assault on April 22 and India’s Operation Sindoor that followed, the sporting relations between India and Pakistan have gotten worse.
The Indian government recently declared a new policy that will allow them to continue competing against Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments but forego bilateral sporting events.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav had declined to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart during the most recent Asia Cup.
However, Hockey India stated that it is unaware of Pakistan’s withdrawal.
“We have no information from FIH that Pakistan has withdrawn. I had a conversation with Pakistan Hockey Federation officials a month-and-a half-back, and they had confirmed their participation,” a PTI report quoted HI secretary general Bholanth Singh as saying.
“What transpired after that I have no knowledge. Our duty is to conduct the best tournament as hosts and hope India wins the title. It is now upto FIH to announce a replacement for Pakistan.”
Interestingly, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has stated its desire to participate in the event at a neutral venue, even though the FIH claims it would search for a replacement team.
Due to the current tensions between the two nations, PHF secretary general Rana Mujahid announced on Friday that the FIH had been informed that the national junior team will not be visiting India.
“We have, at the same time, urged the FIH to arrange for a neutral venue to allow us to participate and play our matches in the Junior World Cup as missing out on major events because they are being held in India is hurting our hockey and not helping in the development of our players,” a PTI report quoted the Olympian as saying in Lahore.
“We have told the FIH how do they expect us to go and play in India when their athletes are not even willing to shake hands in different sports even at neutral venues. FIH says all the events were awarded to India well before the conflict so no one anticipated such a situation,” Rana added.
