Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming Asia Cup Hockey Championship in India is in serious doubt as the federal government weighs security concerns, raising fears of another major setback for the national team’s international prospects.
The tournament, scheduled to begin on August 29 in Bihar, is considered a crucial event in the qualification process for the FIH Men’s World Cup. However, the government has taken a “principled decision” to withdraw from the event, though no formal announcement has been made yet, The News reported.
The report said that the government had earlier asked the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to monitor the situation and wait for improvements. But recent developments, including online threats and hostile coverage in the Indian media, have tilted the decision in favour of non-participation.
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Though the PHF has yet to receive any written directives, officials there are said to be bracing for bad news.
Social media commentary in India has also played a role in shaping concerns. One user wrote, “No nationalist will accept it. The nation will react, and it won’t be peaceful.”
Another, posting under the name Urvi, warned, “Letting Pakistan play here is playing with fire. Don’t test the patience of a nation that buries its dead.”
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If Pakistan skips the Asia Cup, the impact on its World Cup qualification hopes could be severe.
The event is a key part of the qualification pathway, and missing it would not only cost the team valuable ranking points but further isolate Pakistan hockey on the international stage.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
