Pakistan has withdrawn from the upcoming FIH Junior World Cup hockey tournament scheduled to be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10, citing political tension with India as the reason for the pullout.
A top official of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) confirmed the decision, saying it came after consultations with the federal government and the Pakistan Sports Board.
We sought advice from the government and the Pakistan Sports Board, who told us that under the current political tension it would not be feasible to send the junior team to India, as it would pose a big security risk.
The PHF has formally informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which will in turn convey the decision to Hockey India.
Mujahid: ‘The situation is not conducive’
Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Rana Mujahid confirmed the decision, saying the atmosphere between the two countries left no room for a safe or respectful sporting exchange.
Yes, we feel the situation is not conducive under the current situation. The recent Asia Cup cricket event has proved that India has extreme emotions against Pakistan. Their players did not shake hands with our players and then they refused to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, which was shameful. “We cannot send our players to a country which has so much negative emotions.”
Second Major Event Pakistan Misses This Year
This marks the second major international hockey event Pakistan has skipped this year. The team also withdrew from the Asia Cup in August, where they were replaced by Bangladesh — a decision that cost Pakistan qualification for next year’s FIH Hockey World Cup, as the Asia Cup served as the qualifying event.
We know it’s a great loss for the junior team. But at this point, with so much negative emotion in India, the decision is apt and wise.
A Team Denied After A Year Of Preparation
Pakistan’s junior team had been preparing intensively for over a year, playing three international series in the build-up to the World Cup. The decision to withdraw is a major setback for the young squad, who were eager to test themselves against the world’s best.
Just earlier this month, Pakistan and India faced each other in the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia, where the players shared a brief handshake before the start of a 3-3 draw — a rare moment of sporting camaraderie amid the political chill.
Tensions Spill Over Into Sport
The latest withdrawal reflects the continuing strain in India–Pakistan sporting relations, which have hit their lowest point in years following a four-day border conflict in May, the worst since 1999 before a ceasefire was agreed.
The unease was also visible during the recent Asia Cup in Dubai, where Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after all three encounters.
The tension has since spilled into cricket as well. Indian officials recently declined to receive the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister. Following India’s refusal, Naqvi ordered the trophy to be retained at the ACC office — a move that further angered Indian officials.
In an attempt at diplomacy, Naqvi later invited the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to a trophy presentation ceremony in Dubai on November 10, but the BCCI declined. BCCI secretary Devajit Sakia said the matter would instead be raised during the International Cricket Council (ICC) meetings in Dubai from November 4–7.
Sport Caught In The Crossfire
Pakistan’s decision to withdraw from the Junior World Cup underlines how political strain continues to derail sporting exchanges between the two neighbours. Once fierce but frequent rivals across hockey, cricket and other disciplines, India and Pakistan now meet only rarely — and almost always outside the subcontinent.
For Pakistan’s young hockey players, the decision means not only missing a world-class competition but also losing valuable experience that could have shaped the next generation of national stars.
