Pakistan Withdraw From Asian Champions Trophy; India to Open Against Bangladesh
Bangladesh have replaced Pakistan in the men’s Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026 following Pakistan’s withdrawal, with defending champions India set to face Bangladesh in the tournament opener on October 27.
The six-team competition will feature India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and China. The Asian Hockey Federation announced the match schedule on Friday, with Jalandhar hosting the league stage and Mohali staging the semi-finals and medal matches.
Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani had said last month that the team’s participation in India depended on government clearance and that the federation would follow the government’s decision, according to Dawn.
INDIA’S CAMPAIGN BEGINS ON OCTOBER 27
India will begin against Bangladesh after the opening ceremony at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
The Modi Years
02 Oct 2026 - Vol 05 | Issue 40
A Nation Rebuilt
The hosts will then face China on October 29, Japan on October 30, Malaysia on November 1 and South Korea on November 2. All five of India’s league matches are scheduled for 7 pm IST.
The teams will compete in a single round-robin format, playing five matches each. The top four will advance to the semi-finals.
Jalandhar will host all league games from October 27 to November 2. The tournament will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali, where the semi-finals will take place on November 4. The bronze-medal match and final are scheduled for November 5.
October 28, October 31 and November 3 will be rest days.
FIVE-TIME CHAMPIONS EYE ANOTHER TITLE
India enter as the tournament’s top-ranked side after successfully defending their Asian Games gold medal in Japan.
They are also the most successful team in Asian Champions Trophy history, having won in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024. The 2018 title was shared with Pakistan.
For Punjab, hosting the competition brings international hockey to a state that has produced generations of leading Indian players.
“The announcement of the match schedule adds to the excitement for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026. We are delighted to welcome the teams from across Asia to Punjab and look forward to witnessing some high-quality hockey,” Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said.
Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said the tournament would showcase Punjab’s passion for the sport and bring fans closer to international competition.
With inputs from ANI