Pakistan has been excluded from the 2025 Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Cup, despite finishing as runners-up in the previous edition. The tournament, set to begin on November 22 in Ipoh, Malaysia, will feature Belgium, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, and hosts Malaysia.

The exclusion was confirmed on the official website for the tournament which did not include Pakistan among the participating teams.

Interestingly, Japan has also been left out of the 2025 tournament, despite winning the previous edition. The reasons behind the exclusion of both teams remain unclear.

Sources within the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) have stated that the tournament organisers did not extend an invitation, raising concerns over the selection process.

Pakistan delivered a strong performance in the 2024 edition, remaining unbeaten in the group stage with three wins and two draws. They reached the final but lost 4-1 in a penalty shootout to Japan, who secured their first Sultan Azlan Shah Cup title.

Pakistan’s omission comes after securing a bronze medal in the 2023 edition, further solidifying their presence in the competition. With questions surrounding the selection criteria, the decision has sparked debate over the future direction of the historic tournament.