New Delhi, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has requested a neutral venue for their matches in the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy, following Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s announcement that the Pakistan hockey team would travel to India for the tournament.
According to reports, the PHF has reached out to the Asian Hockey Federation, asking to shift their matches, scheduled from October 27 to November 5, to a neutral location. This request aims to ensure the team’s full participation without interruptions.
The tournament will feature teams from India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea, with matches planned in Jalandhar and Mohali. PHF President Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani stated that the decision seeks to provide a safe and respectful environment for national players and officials.
Wani expressed readiness to compete against all member nations of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), including India. He emphasized the PHF’s commitment to keeping sports separate from politics.
Reports from Pakistan’s Jio TV indicate that Wani is hopeful the Asian Hockey Federation will consider the proposal for a neutral venue to ensure Pakistan’s uninterrupted participation in the tournament.
This shift in the PHF’s stance comes just two days after Wani clarified that the team’s tour of India depends on government approval. He noted, “The Pakistan team’s tour will depend on what the government decides. We will follow their directives.”
Due to deteriorating political relations between India and Pakistan, teams from both countries have been unable to participate in events across the border. The Indian men’s cricket team was denied permission to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Asia Cup, playing their matches instead at a neutral venue in the UAE. The ICC has mandated neutral venues for events hosted by each country to find a middle ground.
Similarly, the Pakistan women’s cricket team did not travel to India for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup and played their matches in co-host Sri Lanka. The men’s team also refrained from visiting India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, opting to play in Sri Lanka instead.
It appears that the Pakistan Hockey Federation is now seeking similar arrangements for its men’s hockey team, despite the absence of a formal concept of neutral venues in the sport.
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