Pakistan, Japan excluded from Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey 2025

LAHORE: Pakistan and Japan have been surprisingly excluded from this year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament. They were the finalists of the last year’s event. The reasons behind the omission of both teams remain unclear.

The tournament, scheduled to take place in Ipoh, Malaysia, from November 22 to 29, will feature teams from Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, and host nation Malaysia.

Sources within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) confirmed that the organisers did not extend an invitation to Pakistan, raising concerns about the selection process for the tournament.

Last year, Pakistan’s performance in the Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament was widely celebrated at the government level, with the national team receiving appreciation for their efforts. Their exclusion from this year’s event comes as a surprise.