Bangladesh replace Pakistan at Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026
Bangladesh have accepted the Asian Hockey Federation’s invitation to replace Pakistan at the Men’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026, ending weeks of uncertainty over the Green Shirts’ participation in the tournament starting later this month.
According to sources, Bangladesh agreed to take Pakistan’s place after the Pakistan Hockey Federation informed the continental body it was not prepared to send the national team to India under the existing circumstances. The Asian Hockey Champions Trophy is scheduled from October 27 to November 5, with league matches at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the semi-finals and final at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
Neutral venue request rejected for the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy
The development follows the PHF’s formal request to the Asian Hockey Federation to either move the entire tournament to a neutral country or shift Pakistan’s fixtures to a neutral venue. The federation cited the prevailing circumstances between Pakistan and India and said it wanted a safe, dignified and conducive environment for its players and officials.
Hockey India rejected the proposal. Its secretary general Bhola Nath Singh, who also serves as an Asian Hockey Federation vice-president, said there would be no change of venue. “If Pakistan wants to play in the Asian Champions Trophy, it will have to come to India,” he said, according to Indian media reports.
With India retaining the hosting rights, the six-team tournament will now feature the hosts alongside Malaysia, China, Japan, South Korea and Bangladesh. Organisers had already named Bangladesh and Oman as reserve teams in case Pakistan withdrew.
The scheduled Pakistan-India clash is off
Pakistan and India had been scheduled to meet in Jalandhar on November 1, a fixture that was expected to be one of the tournament’s main attractions. That match will no longer take place.
PHF interim president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani had earlier said the team’s travel depended on government clearance. “We will do whatever the government asks us to do,” he told Dawn. The federation has maintained that it remains committed to keeping sport free from politics, but said the security situation made travel to India unacceptable.
A familiar pattern
This is not the first time Pakistan has stayed away from a hockey event in India. In 2025, the team withdrew from the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, and the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu over security concerns following heightened tensions between the two countries.
For Bangladesh, the invitation is a rare chance to compete against Asia’s leading hockey nations on a major stage. The AHF was expected to formally announce the change on Friday along with the revised tournament draw.
When and where is the Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026?
The tournament runs from October 27 to November 5, 2026. League-stage matches from October 27 to November 2 will be played in Jalandhar, while the semi-finals on November 4 and the final on November 5 will be held in Mohali.
Why is Pakistan not participating?
The Pakistan Hockey Federation asked for the tournament or its own fixtures to be moved to a neutral venue, citing the sensitive bilateral situation and security concerns. After Hockey India rejected the request, the PHF said it was not prepared to send the team to India.
Who replaces Pakistan?
Bangladesh, who were on the reserve list along with Oman, have accepted the Asian Hockey Federation’s invitation to take Pakistan’s place in the six-team event.
