TV
Pakistan is set to evaluate the security situation in India before making a final decision on whether its national hockey team will participate in the upcoming Asia Cup and Junior World Cup, both scheduled to be held in India later this year. A senior government official confirmed that the team would not be sent if there are any security concerns.
Rana Mashood, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Development and Sports Program, stated that Pakistan would only proceed with the tour if the government is fully confident about the safety of its players.
“The government will thoroughly assess the security environment in India for Pakistani citizens. If it deems the conditions unsafe, we will not risk sending our athletes there,” said Mashood, who is also a former provincial minister.
He noted that the situation has become tense following India's Operation Sindoor, raising concerns about the safety of Pakistani nationals visiting India. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has formally requested guidance and clearance from the relevant ministries regarding the national teams' participation in the two key tournaments, with next month’s Asia Cup also serving as a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
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PHF Secretary-General Rana Mujahid acknowledged that Pakistan has participated in previous international hockey tournaments hosted by India. However, he emphasized that the current political climate is different.
“Given the strained relations between the two countries, we cannot proceed without government approval,” he said, adding that the PHF is closely monitoring social media threats being made against the players.
