The absence of a high-profile India-Pakistan clash will take away some of the excitement from the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) Punjab 2026, Indian hockey goalkeeper Suraj Karkera has said. However, defending champions India remain focused on retaining their title.
Pakistan’s withdrawal from the six-team tournament has ruled out a potential encounter between the traditional rivals. Bangladesh will replace Pakistan in the competition, scheduled to take place from October 27 to November 5 across Jalandhar and Mohali in Punjab.
Karkera acknowledged that fans would miss the rivalry but stressed that players had little control over decisions regarding participation. Speaking to ANI, he said the Indian team would concentrate on performing well and allowing the results to speak for themselves.
He also described Pakistan as a good team and noted that athletes generally want to participate in tournaments rather than withdraw.
Pakistan’s participation had remained subject to government clearance, with Pakistan Hockey Federation president Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani previously indicating that the federation would follow the government’s decision on the proposed visit to India.
Despite Pakistan’s absence, India will enter the tournament looking to continue its strong run in Asian hockey. According to the report, India have won 18 of their last 20 meetings against Pakistan since 2016, with the remaining two matches ending in draws.
Their most recent encounter was the semifinal of the 2026 Asian Games, where India secured a narrow 4-3 victory.
Karkera made the remarks during a felicitation ceremony where Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth honoured Indian Army sportspersons who participated in the 2026 Asian Games.
With Bangladesh replacing Pakistan, attention will now turn to India’s title defence and the competition among Asia’s leading hockey teams.
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