India has controversially removed Pakistan from the upcoming Asia Hockey Cup, set to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 29 to September 7, replacing them with Bangladesh.

This move comes amidst heightened security concerns and ongoing political tensions.

According to sources, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) raised security concerns with the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), citing the current volatile situation in the region.

Pakistan’s team had initially planned to travel to India for the event, but due to these security issues and ongoing military tensions, the PHF requested that a security delegation be sent to India to assess the situation.

Following this, the AHF, under apparent pressure from India, made the unilateral decision to replace Pakistan with Bangladesh for the competition.

The PHF emphasised that sending the Pakistani team to India without governmental approval was not feasible, especially considering the heightened risks.

They clarified that any decision to participate would have been contingent on a thorough security assessment and the approval of the Pakistani government.

Indian media has reported that officials from the Indian Hockey Federation have confirmed that Pakistan’s exclusion is now final. They have also requested the event to be relocated to an alternate venue due to these ongoing tensions.

The situation has also cast doubt on Pakistan’s participation in the Junior World Cup, which is also scheduled to take place in India, further escalating the crisis surrounding the region’s sports diplomacy.