Pakistan's national hockey team has been reportedly excluded from the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in November by the Malaysian Hockey Federation, owing to an "outstanding debt."
Pakistan's exclusion from the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup has sent shockwaves through the hockey community. According to reports, the Malaysian organizers were "not happy" with the unresolved issue and decided not to invite Pakistan, the previous year's runner-up, to participate in the tournament.
"A former official of the PHF made some bad decisions during the last Azlan Shah Cup, which left the PHF in debt to the MHF." PTI quoted a source in PHF.
This development comes as a surprise, especially considering Pakistan's impressive performance in the 2024 edition of the tournament. They had reached the final, where they faced off against Japan, marking their first appearance in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup final since 2011.
Pakistan's Sultan Azlan Shah Cup drama continues
The Pakistan Hockey Federation is likely to be disappointed by this decision, given their team's recent resurgence. In the 2024 tournament, Pakistan had secured three wins and two draws.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is a prestigious international hockey tournament held annually in Malaysia. The event attracts top teams from around the world, and Pakistan's absence will undoubtedly be felt.
While the exact amount of the outstanding debt is unclear, it's evident that the issue needs to be resolved to ensure Pakistan's participation in future tournaments. The Pakistan Hockey Federation will likely be working to address this issue and clear the debt, but for now, the team's fans will have to wait and see if they'll be able to compete in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup again.
