Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani confirmed on Monday that the national team’s travel to India for the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 depends on official government authorisation.
Wani stated that the federation will strictly stick to state instructions regarding cross-border travel for the event.
The schedule for the tournament was formally unveiled by Punjab Chief Minister , with the tournament set to run from October 27 to November 5. According to a release from Hockey India, Pakistan is listed among the six participating nations alongside host and defending champion India, South Korea, Malaysia, China, and Japan, with Oman and Bangladesh serving as reserve teams.
Matches will be hosted across two venues in Punjab: the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and all group-stage fixtures through November 2, while Mohali will stage the semifinals on November 4 and the final on November 5.
Addressing the potential trip across the border, Wani, who also serves as the federal secretary of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, told Dawn,
“The visit of the Pakistan team will depend on government clearance. We will do whatever the government asks us to do.”
Diplomatic standstill between India and Pakistan
The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan is scheduled for November 1. India has maintained strong dominance over their rivals in recent decades, securing a series of consecutive victories.
Men’s Asian Champions Trophy is one of the premier events on the Asian Hockey Federation calendar, providing a high-quality platform for competing nations. The 2026 edition is expected to attract significant attention from hockey fans across India and Asia.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent launch of Operation Sindoor, the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports reaffirmed that bilateral sporting contests with Pakistan remain halted. However, policy guidelines permit participation in multilateral international tournaments hosted on Indian soil.
In the recent past, the Pakistan cricket team for the T20 World Cup, while the Indian team decided against travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.