NEW DELHI: Bangladesh is likely to replace Pakistan in the men’s Asia Cup hockey tournament to be held in India from August 29 if the latter fails to confirm participation in the next couple of days, The Press Trust of India news agency reported on Monday, citing a top Hockey India official.

The Indian government had assured the provision of visas to the Pakistan players for the Asia Cup but the Pakistan Hockey Federation has refused to travel across the border citing security concerns.

India has also refused to send teams to participate in events in Pakistan due to increased tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

The Asia Cup organisers have already approached Bangladesh to fill up Pakistan’s place in the eight-team tournament, but Hockey India said the exact scenario will be clear in the next 48 hours.

“The Indian government has already said that it is will willing to provide visas to Pakistani players but if they don’t want to come to India, it’s not our problem. Bangladesh has already been invited to participate in case Pakistan doesn’t come but we will have to wait for two more days to get the confirmation,” the HI official was quoted as saying.

“Neither Pakistan or Bangladesh have confirmed anything to us till now. But Bangladesh are likely replacement for Pakistan,” he added.

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation general secretary Riazul Hasan on Monday confirmed Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament which will be held in Bihar, India, from 27 August to 7 September.

The Asia Cup is a qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIH World Cup and Pakistan Hockey Federation had sought the shifting of the tournament away from India.

Besides hosts India, the other participating teams in the Asia Cup are China, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Oman and Chinese Taipei.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2025