27

Oct

Pakistan pulls out of Junior World Cup A Major Setback

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Prabhjot Singh

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Toronto, Canada | Monday | 27 October 2025

Pakistan has withdrawn its team from the FIH Hockey World Cup for Junior Men starting on November 28 in Chennai-Madurai in India. Pakistan was placed with India, Chile and Switzerland in the 24-nation tournament.

Confirming the withdrawal of Pakistan for security and strained bilateral relations with the host country, India, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said that it would name a replacement for Pakistan as the major event for junior men would continue as scheduled.

Pakistan and India had participated early this month in the Sultan of Johor Hockey Tournament for Junior Men, where India finished runners-up to Australia while Pakistan lost 2-3 to finish fourth.

India and Pakistan had been refusing to play in each other’s countries. In the recent past, they had been playing each other at neutral venues. The most recent was the ICC Women’s World Cup, where India beat Pakistan in Colombo.

India had beaten Pakistan twice in Dubai in men’s cricket last month.

In the men's matches in Dubai and later in the ICC Women’s World Cup match, the Indian teams had refused to shake hands with Pakistani players.

In the Sultan of Johor Hockey Tournament, India and Pakistan had played a 3-3 draw.

Article at a Glance
Pakistan has withdrawn from the FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup, scheduled to begin on November 28 in Chennai-Madurai, India, citing security concerns and strained bilateral relations. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the withdrawal and announced that a replacement team would be named soon, ensuring the tournament continues as planned. Pakistan had been grouped with India, Chile, and Switzerland in the 24-nation event.
The move follows a period of tense sporting ties between the two nations, with both sides avoiding matches in each other’s countries and meeting only at neutral venues. Recently, India and Pakistan clashed in cricket and hockey tournaments, often without post-match handshakes. Pakistan’s decision is seen as a major setback to Indo-Pak sporting relations, especially after its government had recently approved participation in the FIH Pro League, where both teams were expected to compete.

Since Pakistan had sent a team to the Sultan of Johor Hockey Tournament, where India was also participating, many lovers of the game felt that Pakistan would give its young side a chance to compete in a major FIH tournament.

Though the Pakistan government had, in a major policy decision, cleared participation of Pakistan in the FIH Pro League for the coming season, where the two arch-rivals and neighbours would play each other, the last-minute withdrawal from the Chennai-Madurai tournament has come as a major setback to already strained sporting relations between the two countries.

The last time a Pakistani team played in India was the ICC World Cup for Men, where Pakistan played in Ahmedabad and other cities to a warm welcome. ( Prabhjot Singh is a senior journalist with long years in The Tribune, Chandigarh. A big name in sports journalism, he is now  based in Taranto and  spends his time between Canada and India)

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