ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided against sending its national hockey team to India to participate in the upcoming Men’s Hockey Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to start on August 27, local media reported.
Samma News, quoting sources, reported that the decision was taken due to the security threats, political tensions, and hostile propaganda, creating an unsafe environment for the athletes.
The sources said that Pakistan has always kept politics away from sports, but India has always politicized sports.
According to several reports, the government alleged that several extremist groups have threatened the Pakistani hockey players on various social media platforms, raising serious security concerns for the team.
“Indian media continues to spew venom against Pakistan, fueling public sentiment and creating a dangerously hostile environment,” a source to 24News.
The tournament will take place in Rajgir in India’s Bihar state, from August 27 to September 7. Pakistan is also due to participate in the FIH Junior World Cup, to be played in Chennai in November-December this year.
