New Delhi: In a major development for regional sports, the Pakistan hockey team has officially withdrawn from the upcoming Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026, scheduled to be held in Punjab, India. Following Pakistan’s exit, Bangladesh has stepped in, accepting the invitation to complete the six-nation roster for the marquee tournament.
The withdrawal stems from a venue dispute after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) requested the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) to shift their fixtures to a neutral location. Citing ongoing political tensions and security concerns regarding playing on Indian soil, the PHF insisted that the safety and dignity of their national squad were its paramount priorities. However, Hockey India and the AHF rejected the plea for a neutral venue, maintaining that the tournament would proceed strictly according to its original schedule in India.
With the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash now off the table, Bangladesh will join defending champions India, along with China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea in the competition.
The Asian Hockey Champions Trophy is slated to run from October 27 to November 5, 2026. The matches will be hosted across two premier venues in Punjab: Jalandhar and Mohali. The initial round-robin league stage will take place in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2. Following the league phase, the top four teams will advance to the knockout stages. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 4, and the medal matches will take place on November 5 at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali.
Team India, the most successful nation in the history of the Asian Champions Trophy with five titles (2011, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2024), enters the tournament as overwhelming favourites. The hosts will kick off their campaign against the newly inducted Bangladesh side on October 27 at 7:00 PM IST in Jalandhar. They will subsequently face China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea on October 29, October 30, November 1, and November 2, respectively.
While the absence of the traditional arch-rivals has undoubtedly disappointed fans hoping for a high-octane encounter, the inclusion of Bangladesh ensures that the highly competitive format of the premier Asian tournament remains firmly intact.