Bangladesh set to replace Pakistan in Asia Cup hockey as India hosts in Rajgir
Bangladesh could step in for Pakistan at the 2025 Asia Cup hockey in Bihar as doubts remain over Pakistan's participation.
New Delhi: The Bangladesh men’s hockey team is likely to replace Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup hockey tournament, set to begin on August 29. The 12th edition will be held in Rajgir, Bihar, with India hosting the event for the third time. A top Hockey India official told PTI on Monday that the replacement will happen if Pakistan fails to confirm participation in the next couple of days with just nine days left for the kick-off.
The Indian government had already made it clear that it will provide visas to the Pakistan players for the tournament but the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has refused to travel, citing concerns over security.
As per the latest update the organisers have already contacted Bangladesh to fill up the spot in the eight-team tournament but Hockey India has said that the exact scenario will get clear in the next 48 hours.
When quizzed about the situation the Hockey India official said, "The Indian government has already said that it is willing to provide visas to Pakistani players but if they don't want to come to India, it's not our problem. Bangladesh has already been invited to participate in case Pakistan doesn't come but we will have to wait for two more days to get the confirmation."
He added, "Neither Pakistan or Bangladesh have confirmed anything to us till now. But Bangladesh are likely replacement for Pakistan."
Why Pakistan’s participation remain uncertain?
The participation of the men's hockey team in the Asia Cup became uncertain after the military confrontation that happened after the Pahalgam terror attack. The tournament is a crucial one in the calendar as it's a qualifying tournament for the next year's World Cup.
In response to the same India launched Operation Sindoor to destroy terror infrastructure in Pakistan after 26 citizens were killed in the attack. Earlier, PHF even suggested moving the tournament out of India.
The other participants in the 2025 Asia Cup are China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Oman and Chinese Taipei. So far Pakistan have won the title thrice back in 1982, 1985 and 1989.
In the last edition of the tournament that held in 2022 in Jakarta they finished third in the pool failing to qualify for the semifinals.