Pakan pulls out of Jr Hockey World Cup in India, demand for neutral venue not accepted

Pakan has withdrawn from next month’s Junior Hockey World Cup in Tamil Nadu, citing ongoing tensions between the two neighbours.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) said it has been informed about the decision and a replacement team will be announced soon. “We can confirm that the Pakan Hockey Federation (PHF) has notified the International Hockey Federation that its team initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 won’t participate eventually. The team replacing Pakan for this event will be announced soon,” the world body said in a statement, as per the Press Trust of India.
The 24-team Junior World Cup is scheduled to be held from November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai. Pakan were placed in Group B alongside hosts India, Chile and Switzerland. India and Pakan were slated to face each other on November 29 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai.
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Pakan had also skipped the Asia Cup, held in Bihar, in August-September despite the tournament being a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
The move comes in the backdrop of heightened tensions between the two countries following the terror attacks in Pulwama and Operation Sindoor.
The PHF decided not to travel to India for the Junior World Cup following a ‘high-profile’ meeting this week, where security issues were reviewed. According to Dawn, the officials also discussed the ‘conduct of India’s cricket team during the recent Asia Cup’. The Indian cricketers refused to shake hands with their Pakani counterparts and did not accept the championship trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakan’s interior miner.
“The PHF will convey its decision to Hockey India soon,” a PHF official told Dawn. “The PHF and the government don’t want to compromise on the security of players, therefore we decided not to send our team.”Story continues below this ad
PHF secretary Rana Mujahid said they formally conveyed their decision to the FIH while also proposing the option of playing its matches at a neutral venue.
“We have, at the same time, urged the FIH to arrange for a neutral venue to allow us to participate and play our matches in the Junior World Cup as missing out on major events because they are being held in India is hurting our hockey and not helping in the development of our players,” Mujahid was quoted as saying PTI.
Earlier this year, the International Cricket Council decided to host matches involving Pakan and India at neutral venues during tournaments held in either country. The FIH, however, has decided not to make any hybrid arrangements owing to logical and financial issues.
Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh said they did not receive any official communication from the FIH or the Pakani federation, adding that the country had ‘confirmed its participation’ during a conversation ‘month-and-a-half ago’.