Pakistan will not be competing in the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup in 2025. Reports suggest that the Pakistan Hockey Federation did not receive an invitation to the prestigious invitational tournament.
The 2024 runners-up, Pakistan, will be absent from the event, as will defending champions Japan.
This year’s tournament, scheduled to take place in Ipoh, Malaysia, from November 22nd to 29th, will feature teams from Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, and the host nation, Malaysia. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has already released the match schedule.
In the 2024 edition, Japan secured their first-ever Azlan Shah title, defeating Pakistan 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a strong, unbeaten run by Pakistan throughout the tournament, having won three matches and drawing two other. Pakistan had previously earned the bronze medal in the prior edition.