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Pakistan pulls out of Junior World Cup, FIH to name replacement
The withdrawal from the Chennai-Madurai tournament is a major setback to already strained sporting relations with India.
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Prabhjot Paul Singh - Sat, 25, Oct 2025
- 01:14 EDT
- 27
Stock image. / istock
Pakistan has withdrawn its team from the FIH Hockey World Cup for Junior Men, starting on November 28 in Chennai-Madura, India. Pakistan was placed with India, Chile and Switzerland in the 24-nation tournament.
Confirming the withdrawal of Pakistan, citing security and strained bilateral relations with the host country, India, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said that it would name a replacement for Pakistan as the major event for junior men would continue as scheduled.
Pakistan and India had participated early this month in the Sultan of Johor Hockey Tournament for Junior Men, where India finished runners-up to Australia while Pakistan lost 2-3 to finish fourth.
India and Pakistan had been refusing to play in each other’s countries. In the recent past, they had been playing each other at neutral venues. The most recent was the ICC Women’s World Cup, where India beat Pakistan in Colombo.
India had beaten Pakistan thrice in Dubai in men’s cricket last month. Pakistan also refused to travel to Rajgir in Bihar for the Asia Cup Hockey Tournament for men, a qualifying tournament for the men’s World Cup.
In the Dubai men's matches and later in the ICC Women’s World Cup match, the Indian teams had refused to shake hands with Pakistani players. Pakistan quoted this behaviour of Indian cricket teams, both men and women, to refuse to travel to India for the Junior World Cup.
In the Sultan of Johor Hockey Tournament, India and Pakistan had played a 3-3 draw.
Since Pakistan had sent a team to the Sultan of Johor Hockey Tournament, where India was also participating, many lovers of the game felt that Pakistan would give its young side a chance to compete in a major FIH tournament.
Though the Pakistan government had, in a major policy decision, cleared participation of Pakistan in the FIH Pro League the coming season, where the two arch-rivals and neighbours would play each other, the last-minute withdrawal from the Chennai-Madurai tournament has come as a major setback to already strained sporting relations between the two countries.
The last time a Pakistani team played in India was the ICC World Cup for Men, where Pakistan played in Ahmedabad and other cities to a warm welcome.
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