Pakistan omitted from Azlan Shah Hockey Cup 2025
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Pakistan has been surprisingly excluded from this year's prestigious Azlan Shah Hockey Cup, despite reaching the final in the previous tournament, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.
The tournament, scheduled to take place in Ipoh, Malaysia, from November 22, will see teams from Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, and host nation Malaysia competing for the title.
According to a social media post by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) regarding the event, Pakistan's name was not included among the participating teams.
Sources within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) confirmed that the tournament organizers did not send an invitation to the country.
Last year, Pakistan secured a silver medal. Their achievement was recognized at the government level, with the national team receiving widespread appreciation for their efforts.
However, despite their commendable showing in the previous edition, they have been left out this time.
Interestingly, Japan, the team that won the gold medal by defeating Pakistan in the final, has also been omitted from this year’s lineup.
The reasons behind the exclusion of both teams remain unclear, sparking concerns about the selection process for invitations.