In a surprising turn of events, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has postponed the official draw for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, which is set to take place in India from November 28 to December 10. The decision has sparked speculation and concern, particularly surrounding the participation of Pakistan.
Although the FIH has officially cited “technical reasons” for the delay, sources close to the matter suggest otherwise. Behind closed doors, there appears to be a growing unease within the hockey fraternity regarding Pakistan’s presence at the 16-team tournament, especially in light of the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
The incident has further strained the already tense political ties between India and Pakistan, and insiders fear that it could result in the Pakistan team being denied visas to enter the country. Hockey India and the FIH have maintained a strict silence on the matter, adding fuel to speculation.
“We are preparing for the tournament like any other,” said a source from within the FIH who requested anonymity. “We haven’t received any formal communication from the hosts that indicates a problem. As far as we know, everything is on track.”
When asked directly about the postponement of the draw, the source described it simply as a “technical delay” and asked not to read more into it.
However, Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) has is learnt that the May 5 draw was postponed due to visa-related issue for Pakistan-born FIH chief Tayyab Ikram. Ikram, now a citizen of Macau, could not have attended the draw ceremony.
The Junior World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted in the southern Indian cities of Chennai and Madurai. But the issue of whether Pakistan will be allowed to participate remains a question that no one in authority seems eager to answer.
For Pakistan, the Junior World Cup has been both a dream and a disappointment in recent years. The team failed to participate in 2016 Lucknow edition due to financial and visa-related obstacles and managed only an 11th-place finish in the 2021 edition in Bhubaneswar. This year, bureaucratic and diplomatic roadblocks threaten to erase that opportunity entirely.
Adding to the complexity is Pakistan’s scheduled appearance at the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, later this year from August 27 to September 7.
That tournament is a key qualifier for the 2026 World Cup. If tensions remain and visas are again an issue, it could potentially sideline Pakistan from the broader international hockey calendar, which would be a massive setback not just for the team, but for the sport’s spirit of inclusion and competition in Asia.
The Asian Hockey Federation now finds itself walking a tightrope, with both logistical and diplomatic challenges to navigate.
