Pakistan withdrew from the Asia Cup hockey tournament over security concerns and will miss the competition for the first time in its history. The eight-nation tournament begins in Rajgir, Bihar, India, three months after heavy border clashes between India and Pakistan. Pakistan, a three-time former champion and founding Asian Hockey Federation member, was replaced in Group B by Bangladesh. Hockey India confirmed Pakistan's omission, citing Pakistan Hockey Federation concerns over squad security and stating that the host nation did not refuse Pakistan's participation. The PHF informed HI and the AHF in August, and omission was confirmed when the tournament schedule was announced.
Pakistan will miss the Asia Cup hockey tournament for the first time in its history due to security concerns as the tournament begins in India on Friday. The eight-nation tournament is being hosted in Rajgir a city in India's northeastern state of Bihar three months after India and Pakistan returned from the brink of an all-out war on their shared border.
The three-time former champions and one of the founding members of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) have been replaced by Bangladesh in Group B of the upcoming tournament. Pakistan's omission from the competition was confirmed by Hockey India's (HI) President Dilip Kumar Tirkey last week, citing the Pakistan Hockey Federation's (PHF) concerns over their squad's security in India. Pakistan is not coming to this tournament due to security concerns, Tirkey told Indian news agency ANI.
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