Pakistan Withdraws from 2026 Asian Champions Trophy; Bangladesh to Take Its Place

Punjab, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : The Pakistan men’s hockey team has officially withdrawn from the Asian Champions Trophy 2026, scheduled to take place in Punjab. Bangladesh will now take Pakistan’s spot in the tournament, which kicks off on October 27 in Jalandhar and Mohali.

This decision follows Pakistan’s ongoing policy against cross-border travel, which means that India, the host nation and gold medal winner at the Asian Games, will face Bangladesh on the opening day of the tournament. The Asian Hockey Federation released the full match schedule for this prestigious continental event on Friday.

The tournament will run from October 27 to November 5 at two prominent hockey stadiums in Punjab: the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali. In addition to India and Bangladesh, four other teams—Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and China—will compete. After successfully defending their gold medal at the Asian Games, the five-time ACT champions, India, will enter the tournament as the top-seeded team, aiming to maintain their impressive record.

The opening ceremony is set for October 27, right before India plays its first match against Bangladesh. Six teams will compete in a single round-robin format, with each team playing five matches. The top four teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the semifinals.

Following their initial match against Bangladesh, India will face China on October 29, Japan on October 30, Malaysia on November 1, and South Korea on November 2. All of India’s league matches will begin at 7:00 PM IST. The tournament will feature rest days on October 28, 31, and November 3. Pakistan’s withdrawal aligns with both countries’ refusal to allow their teams to travel across the border, leading to matches being held at neutral venues. However, due to the unique circumstances in hockey, Pakistan opted to withdraw its team, which had previously secured a bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games.

Before the tournament’s critical stages in Mohali, Jalandhar will host all league matches from October 27 to November 2. The semifinals and medal matches will take place at the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium, with the semifinals on November 4 and the bronze and gold medal matches on November 5.

This tournament holds significant importance for Punjab, marking the return of international hockey to a region known as the nursery of the sport in India. Historically, India has been the most successful team in the Asian Champions Trophy, having won titles in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023, and 2024. The host team will look to add another chapter to its illustrious record in front of enthusiastic local fans.

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey expressed excitement over the match schedule announcement, stating, “The announcement has heightened the anticipation for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026. We are thrilled to welcome teams from across Asia and look forward to witnessing top-notch hockey.” Hockey India’s Secretary General, Bhola Nath Singh, echoed these sentiments, noting, “With the schedule’s announcement, the countdown for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 has truly begun. Hockey India takes pride in hosting participating nations and showcasing Punjab’s passion and hospitality. We expect an exciting and competitive tournament that will bring fans closer to the game and provide every team the opportunity to perform at the highest level.”