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The participation of Pakistan in the upcoming Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 is under serious doubt following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 29 to September 7, and also serves as a crucial qualifier for the 2026 Hockey World Cup. However, the recent escalation in tensions between India and Pakistan has cast a shadow over the event, with the Indian government revoking visas of Pakistani nationals and ordering their exit from the country by April 27.
In light of these developments, Hockey India has stated it will follow the central government’s policy regarding Pakistan’s participation. While there is no official word yet on Pakistan's disqualification, insiders suggest that alternatives are being considered, including shifting the tournament to a neutral venue or proceeding without the Pakistani team. The incident has not only impacted diplomatic ties but is now visibly affecting international sporting engagements, particularly in hockey, a sport with a storied rivalry between the two nations.
Other sporting decisions taken by India amidst Pahalgam terror attack
The consequences of the Pahalgam attack are not limited to hockey. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reaffirmed its stance of not participating in any bilateral cricket series with Pakistan. Although both teams continue to face off in multilateral ICC events, the BCCI remains firm on its refusal to resume bilateral ties. In a further move, Indian streaming platform FanCode has pulled all coverage of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), including live matches and promotional content, amid growing public sentiment against sporting engagements with Pakistan.
Other sporting ties have also been impacted. Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic gold medallist in javelin, confirmed that his Pakistani rival Arshad Nadeem will not be participating in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, scheduled in Bengaluru on May 24, despite earlier invitations. Meanwhile, stadiums across India have begun removing portraits and tributes to former Pakistani athletes, particularly cricketers, as a show of protest and solidarity with the victims. These measures collectively reflect a broader, hardening stance by India against Pakistan in the sporting arena, further straining what was already a fragile relationship between the two neighbours.
