Hockey India has made it clear that Pakistan’s request to change the venue for the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy will not be approved. The tournament is scheduled to take place in Mohali from October 27, 2026.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has formally asked the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to either move the tournament out of India or arrange for all of Pakistan’s matches to be held at a neutral venue. PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani confirmed this request was made due to the ongoing sensitive relations between India and Pakistan, highlighting concerns about the safety of the Pakistani players and staff during the event.
In response to this, Bhola Nath Singh, Secretary General of Hockey India, stated that no changes will be made to the venue and that the Pakistan team must travel to India for the tournament. “We will not entertain any such request. There will be no change in the venue. If Pakistan wants to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy, they will have to come to India,” Bhola Nath said.
He also mentioned that if Pakistan decides not to travel to India, Bangladesh or Oman could step in as replacement teams. “We have two teams in Bangladesh and Oman who can take Pakistan’s place,” he added.
Adding to the situation, a senior official from the Pakistan Hockey Federation revealed that the national team has not yet received the necessary government clearance for their travel to India, contradicting earlier statements made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Mann had assured that Pakistan would take part in the tournament and indicated that India’s sports policy allows Pakistani teams to compete in events hosted in the country.
Historically, Pakistan has withdrawn from tournaments held in India due to security issues. They missed the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu last year and also opted out of the Asia Cup for similar reasons.
The 2026 Asian Champions Trophy will feature six teams, including India, Pakistan, Malaysia, China, Japan, and Korea.
