Why Pakistan Withdrew from Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Check Reason, Replacement and Revised Schedule

Pakistan have withdrawn from the Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026, which is set to begin in India on October 27, 2026. The move was largely anticipated amid the seriously deteriorated sporting ties between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025.

The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has named Bangladesh as Pakistan's replacement, and the tournament is set to commence as per the original schedule.

In this article, we will look at the reason behind Pakistan's withdrawal, the revised list of participating teams, the complete match schedule and the difference between the Men's Asian Champions Trophy and the Hockey Asia Cup.

Why Has Pakistan Withdrawn from Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026?

The sporting ties between India and Pakistan have seriously deteriorated following the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025. The impact has been seen across a wide range of sports, including hockey.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) requested a neutral venue, citing security concerns about travelling to India. However, Hockey India and the Asian Hockey Federation rejected the request, leading to Pakistan's withdrawal from the tournament.

Earlier, Pakistan had also withdrawn from the Men's Hockey Asia Cup 2025 and the Junior Hockey World Cup 2025,.

Who Replaced Pakistan in Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026?

Bangladesh are set to replace Pakistan in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026 following the withdrawal. With the replacement confirmed, the tournament will feature 6 teams.

The revised list of participating teams is as follows:

• India

• Malaysia

• Japan

• South Korea

• China

• Bangladesh

Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Revised Schedule

The Men's Asian Champions Trophy 2026 schedule remains unchanged, with Bangladesh taking Pakistan's place in the fixtures. India will begin its campaign against Bangladesh on October 27, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST in Jalandhar.

Below is the complete schedule of the tournament.

Full Tournament Schedule

India's Match Schedule

Are the Hockey Asia Cup and Asian Champions Trophy the Same?

No, the Hockey Asia Cup and the Asian Champions Trophy are 2 distinct continental hockey tournaments organised by the Asian Hockey Federation. Although both competitions feature leading Asian hockey teams, they are separate events with different competition formats and histories.

India have been dominant in the Men's Asian Champions Trophy, with 5 titles to their name. Following their gold-medal victory at the Asian Games 2026, India will be looking to clinch the title once again and continue their dominance in Asian hockey.