Overview

• Government sources told AFP on July 12 that Pakistan will not send senior and junior hockey sides to India due to unresolved security threats despite India’s provisional clearance.
• The Men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir doubles as a qualifier for the 2026 World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, and non-participation is likely to cost Pakistan a berth.
• PHF secretary-general Rana Mujahid says the federation is tracking social-media threats to players as part of a broader risk assessment led by Rana Mashood.
• Facing a travel ban, the Pakistan Hockey Federation plans to petition the International and Asian Hockey Federations to shift the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup to neutral venues, though funding is scarce.
• Escalating cross-border clashes, including India’s Operation Sindoor in May, have intensified bilateral tensions and driven the government to prioritize athlete safety over tournament participation.