Pakistan Withdraws From Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 In India – Replacement Team To Be Announced

Pakistan has officially withdrawn from the FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup 2025, scheduled to be held in Chennai and Madurai, and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will announce a replacement team shortly.

In a statement released to PTI, FIH confirmed, "The Pakistan Hockey Federation has notified the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that its team, initially qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, will not participate." The statement added, "The team replacing Pakistan for this event will be announced soon."

The decision comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent retaliation through Operation Sindoor.

PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid cited the strained relations, referencing the recent hostilities between the two nations' cricket teams during the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE. He stated, "Yes, we feel the situation is not conducive under the current situation. The recent Asia Cup cricket event has proved that India has extreme emotions against Pakistan. Their players did not shake hands with our players and then they refused to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, which was shameful. We cannot send our players to a country which has so much negative emotions."

This marks the second significant tournament from which a Pakistani hockey team has withdrawn in 2025. Earlier in August, Pakistan pulled out of the Men's Asia Cup, after which Bangladesh was invited as a replacement.

Mujahid added, "We know it's a great loss for the junior team. But at this point, with so much negative emotion in India, the decision is apt and wise."