The men’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy 2026 begins in India’s Punjab province on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, without Pakistan, who withdrew from the tournament. Bangladesh have taken Pakistan’s place in the six-team event.
What happened?
Pakistan’s withdrawal was announced on October 9, 2026, and Bangladesh were named as the replacement side, with Oman also listed as a reserve option. The tournament features hosts India, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Malaysia and South Korea.
Key details
- League-stage matches will be played at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2.
- The semi-finals and medal matches move to Mohali on November 4 and 5.
- Hosts India open their campaign against Bangladesh on October 27.
- Pakistan’s participation had earlier been described as subject to government approval before the withdrawal was confirmed.
What it means for people in Pakistan
Pakistani hockey fans will follow this edition without a team of their own in the field, but the tournament still matters for the region, with several of Pakistan’s Asian rivals, including Malaysia and Japan, testing themselves ahead of bigger events.
Source: https://www.mykhel.com/hockey/pakistan-pulls-out-of-asian-hockey-champions-trophy-in-punjab-bangladesh-to-replace-them-455965.html
