Pakistan’s absence from this year’s prestigious Azlan Shah Hockey Cup has raised eyebrows, especially after the team’s remarkable performance in the previous edition, where they finished as runners-up.
The tournament, set to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia, from November 22, will feature top teams, including Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, and the host nation, Malaysia.
However, Pakistan’s name was notably missing from the lineup in the official announcement by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Sources within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) revealed that the organizers did not extend an invitation to Pakistan, despite their silver medal finish in the last edition.
The team had received national recognition for their efforts, making their exclusion from this year’s event even more surprising.
Interestingly, Japan, the team that clinched the gold medal after defeating Pakistan in the final, has also been left out of the competition.
The reasons behind the omission of both teams remain unclear, sparking discussions about the selection criteria for tournament invitations.
