The 12th edition of the Men’s Asia Cup Hockey 2025 is set to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 29 to September 7, 2025. For India, the tournament is not just about defending continental pride it also serves as a crucial qualifier for the 2026 World Cup.
But beyond the sticks, balls, and goals, this edition carries weighty political undertones. The withdrawal of Pakistan, India’s fiercest rival and a traditional hockey powerhouse, has transformed the competition’s dynamics, reducing its spectacle while simultaneously underlining how deeply sports in South Asia remain hostage to politics.
Pakistan’s Withdrawal: Security or Politics?
In late July, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) confirmed that it would not be sending a team to India, citing “security concerns.” The decision came despite India providing official visa assurances to Pakistani players. Reports suggested that the PHF had even begun the visa application process before abruptly pulling out. The contradiction points towards political directives overriding sporting sense. The Pakistan government had earlier issued a clear instruction that no sports body could travel to India without state approval. Eventually, that permission was formally denied. Islamabad had also demanded specific security details from New Delhi—details that were never shared. The result was inevitable: withdrawal.
India and Pakistan’s hockey clashes have always been more than sport they are cultural events. Since their first meeting at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics final, the rivalry has produced unforgettable contests. The two nations met in three consecutive Olympic finals between 1956 and 1964, sharing titles. They have contested eight Asian Games finals, Pakistan winning six. At the Asia Cup, they have met in three finals, Pakistan taking two.
The numbers reflect the intensity: across 181 matches, Pakistan leads with 82 wins to India’s 67, with 32 draws. Both have won three Asia Cup titles each. The rivalry’s most lopsided results tell their own stories—India’s 10-2 win at the 2024 Asian Games, Pakistan’s 7-1 hammering in 1982 New Delhi. For fans, these encounters are unmatched in drama and atmosphere. The absence of such a fixture in Rajgir strips the tournament of its emotional centerpiece.
Bangladesh Steps In
With Pakistan stepping aside, Bangladesh was swiftly invited to take the vacant slot. As the third-placed team in the AHF Cup, they were next in line and had already begun a national training camp in anticipation of such a scenario. While Bangladesh’s inclusion ensures the tournament maintains its eight-team structure, their presence cannot replace the competitive bite that Pakistan would have brought. For India, a clash against Pakistan on home soil would have drawn massive crowds, viewership, and attention. Instead, Rajgir will miss out on the one match that has historically defined the Asia Cup.
The Asia Cup is a direct qualifier for the 2026 World Cup. Pakistan’s decision to skip the tournament, despite being a rising force once again, could prove costly. In recent years, Pakistan hockey had shown signs of revival, reaching the Nations Cup final in June 2025 and earning an invitation to the prestigious FIH Pro League. Skipping the Asia Cup not only jeopardizes their World Cup qualification chances but also undoes much of that progress.
In essence, political directives have derailed the sporting ambitions of Pakistan’s players. The athletes who had fought hard to put Pakistan back on the global hockey map now face the risk of missing the sport’s biggest stage not because of poor performance, but because of geopolitical fallout.
Interestingly, India’s stance has been one of selective openness. While it has categorically refused to travel to Pakistan for tournaments be it in cricket or hockey it has allowed Pakistani teams to compete in India. Officials argue this avoids violating IOC rules, which emphasize participation rights. This policy underlines the imbalance in bilateral sports ties. India uses sporting openness as a diplomatic tool, while Pakistan often responds with blanket withdrawals. The result is a cycle of boycotts, withdrawals, and cancellations that prevents either nation from building continuity in their sporting exchanges.
The Asia Cup episode is only the latest chapter. Over the years, political tensions have repeatedly disrupted India-Pakistan sporting ties:
- Pakistan missed the 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow after the Uri and Pathankot attacks.
- India refused to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, prompting Pakistan to boycott Indian-hosted ICC events.
- The World Championship of Legends cricket semifinal in July 2025 was cancelled when Indian players refused to play Pakistan.
- India’s cricket team has not visited Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
Each of these incidents shows how sports become extensions of statecraft, rarely allowed to stand on their own merit.
The Larger Picture: Sports Diplomacy in Crisis
Sport is often said to bridge divides. But in South Asia, particularly between India and Pakistan, it frequently becomes collateral damage. The Rajgir Asia Cup could have been an opportunity for hockey to reclaim attention in both nations. Instead, it is another reminder that political mistrust overrides sporting aspirations. The implications go beyond just fans missing out. Athletes are denied opportunities, development is stunted, and international competitions lose their competitive edge. Without India-Pakistan clashes, Asia Cup 2025 will lack the magnetism that draws casual viewers.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) now faces a dilemma. Pakistan’s absence not only reduces the tournament’s stature but also potentially compromises World Cup qualification pathways. If sporting bodies fail to act, athletes will continue to pay the price for political decisions.
Possible solutions could include:
- Neutral venues for politically sensitive tournaments.
- Third-party security assurances to address concerns.
- Alternative qualification routes to ensure athletes are not unfairly punished.
- Mediation through sports diplomacy, with neutral bodies facilitating dialogue between federations.
Without such measures, the integrity of global tournaments will remain hostage to bilateral politics.
The Asia Cup Hockey 2025 will go ahead in Rajgir with eight teams, but its biggest storyline is the one missing: India vs Pakistan. The clash that once defined Asian hockey, and at times world hockey, will not take place not because of player injuries, form, or tactics, but because of politics.
For India, the focus remains firmly on winning the title and booking a berth at the 2026 World Cup. For Pakistan, the absence could mean losing out on the global stage altogether. For fans, it is a lost opportunity to witness one of the greatest rivalries in sport. As the first whistle blows in Bihar, the tournament will begin. But the shadow of geopolitics will loom large, reminding us once again that in South Asia, sport rarely escapes politics. Until that changes, events like the Asia Cup will always carry the tag of “the tournament that could have been.”
