Bangladesh hockey team leaves for India to compete in the Asia Cup

The Bangladesh national hockey team departed Dhaka on Tuesday morning to compete in the Asia Cup Hockey, set to kick off on 29 August in Rajgir, India. The tournament, hosted at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium, will run until 7 September.

Bangladesh will take the field on the opening day against Malaysia in their first Group B clash. Their second match is scheduled for 30 August against Chinese Taipei, followed by the final group fixture against South Korea on 1 September.

The eight participating nations have been split into two groups: Group A features hosts India, China, Japan and Kazakhstan, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Malaysia, South Korea and Chinese Taipei. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the semifinals.

The champion will earn an automatic place in the 2026 Hockey World Cup, while teams finishing between second and fifth will still have a pathway to qualification through the World Cup qualifiers.

Bangladesh’s entry comes after Pakistan’s withdrawal, providing captain Moshiur Rahman Biplob’s side with a late opportunity. The players have pledged to seize it, aiming for a top-four or top-five finish to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Preparation, however, has been overshadowed by controversy. Four senior players — Puskar Khisa Mimo, Mainul Islam Koushik, Naim Uddin and Abed Uddin — were left out of the 18-man squad. The omission turned contentious after the players alleged verbal abuse by Bangladesh Hockey Federation joint secretary Abu Jafar Tapon and demanded his removal in a press conference at the national stadium.

Amid the turmoil, the men in red and green are determined to regroup and showcase their fighting spirit as they open their Asia Cup campaign against Malaysia in Rajgir.