(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Pakistan Missing from Junior Hockey World Cup Despite Being Named in Schedule
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has announced the full schedule for the upcoming Men’s Junior World Cup, to be held in Tamil Nadu from November 28 to December 10, 2025. The tournament is expected to showcase the best young talent from across the globe.
Surprisingly, Pakistan was included in the official schedule and placed in Group B alongside India, Chile, and Switzerland. According to the draw, Pakistan’s matches were listed against Switzerland on November 28, India on November 29, and Chile on December 2.
However, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has already confirmed that the national junior team will not be participating in the event. The decision follows earlier developments when Pakistan withdrew from the Asia Cup 2025 in Bihar, which also served as a qualifying event for the senior World Cup.
At the time, officials cited security concerns as the reason for staying away from the competition. Similar considerations are now expected to apply to the Junior World Cup, meaning Pakistan’s young players will not be traveling to India for the tournament.
The absence of Pakistan — a country with a rich hockey history — is seen as a setback for both the athletes and the tournament. For the junior players, it represents a lost chance to gain valuable international exposure. For fans and followers of the sport, it reduces some of the competitive edge that comes with traditional rivalries on the field.
Despite this development, the Junior Hockey World Cup is set to go ahead with strong participation from other teams, ensuring a high level of competition and global attention on the rising stars of the game.
