Pakistan and Oman have officially withdrawn from the 2025 men’s Hockey Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar. The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) announced that Bangladesh and Kazakhstan will step in to fill their spots in the eight-team tournament, which runs from August 29 to September 7 and serves as a qualifier for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation cited security concerns—particularly related to the earlier Pahalgam incident—as the reason for their withdrawal, despite receiving assurances of visa facilitation from Indian authorities. Oman also pulled out, reportedly due to financial issues, and was similarly replaced by Kazakhstan.
The shake-up has not deterred the AHF, which confirmed the new team lineup and bracket: India will face Japan, China, and Kazakhstan in Pool A, while Pool B will feature Malaysia, South Korea, Bangladesh, and Chinese Taipei. The winner of the tournament will secure a direct berth to the World Cup.
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Indian hockey officials have downplayed the security concerns raised by Pakistan and Oman, asserting that the safety standards in India are superior to those in Pakistan.