Big U-Turn! Pakistan Team To Visit India For Junior Hockey World Cup

Last Updated:August 30, 2025, 17:48 IST

Pakistan will visit India for the FIH Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu, confirms Bholanath Singh, after earlier withdrawal from the Asia Cup in Bihar due to security concerns.

Hocky representative photo (Credit: AFP)

In a complete U-turn from the original stance, Pakistan is now set to visit India later this year for the FIH Junior World Cup, as per Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh.

Pakistan withdrew from the ongoing Asia Cup in Bihar due to the military conflict between the two nations in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, citing security concerns. This led to doubts about whether the team would participate in the Junior World Cup scheduled to be held in Tamil Nadu in November-December. Many reports even claimed that the government and the board were aligned against traveling to India.

“The Pakistan team is coming to India for the Junior World Cup. They confirmed to us last night. I asked them about their availability after they opted out of the ongoing Asia Cup," Bholanath said, as quoted by PTI.

He mentioned that preparations for the tournament were at the ‘final stage’.

“Out of 24 countries, we have received the long list from 23 nations. Only Pakistan is left, which we expect to receive in a day or two."

The Indian government recently implemented a sports policy stating that it would not engage in bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan but would allow Indian teams to compete against them in multi-national events. Recently, after being on the verge of cancellation the cricket Asia Cup 2025 also got the go-ahead and will see at least one and at most three matches between India and Pakistan in the UAE.

“I am very clear that whatever the Olympic Charter tells us, the government and Hockey India will abide by that and fulfil that. The Government of India is also clear that Pakistan can come and play against India in any international tournament," Bholanath said. “The government has even cleared their visas, but only Pakistan knows why they didn’t come."

Pakistan has replaced New Zealand in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League.

“If they are in our pool in the FIH Pro League, and if we have a match against Pakistan, why won’t we play them? It is an international tournament," Bholanath said. “If Pakistan comes for the Pro League, why won’t we play them? It is an international tournament," he added

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First Published:

August 30, 2025, 17:48 IST

News sports Big U-Turn! Pakistan Team To Visit India For Junior Hockey World Cup

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