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Pakistan will only allow its national men’s hockey team to travel to India for the upcoming Asia Cup if security arrangements are deemed satisfactory, said Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP).
Speaking to local media here in Karachi, Mashhood emphasized that the government does not want to put the team in any kind of danger.
“We will analyze the security arrangements for the Asia Cup in India,” he said. “If we are not satisfied, we will not put the Pakistan team at risk.”
The Asia Hockey Federation (AHF) Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, 2025. The event has taken on political overtones due to strained Pakistan-India relations, especially in sports.
Mashhood added that the national team is confident and eager to beat arch-rivals India on their home turf, but safety remains the top priority.
This cautious stance comes after reports in Indian media last week stated that the Indian government was prepared to allow Pakistan’s participation.
A Sports Ministry official in India noted that blocking Pakistan could breach the Olympic Charter. “We are not against teams competing in multi-national events. If we try to stop Pakistan, it would be seen as a violation,” the official was quoted as saying.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs have also reportedly approved Pakistan’s presence at the Asia Cup, distinguishing it from bilateral events, which still remain off the table due to political tensions.
India is also set to host the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup later this year from November 28 to December 10, with matches in Chennai and Madurai.
