Indian media has been slammed by Pakistani sports journalist Faizan Lakhani for hate-mongering after Controversial Indian anchor Arnab Goswami targeted Pakistan’s hockey team.

 

Arnab Goswami slammed the Indian government decision to allow Pakistan’s hockey team to participate in the upcoming Hockey Asia Cup 2025.

 

According to media reports, Pakistan has received diplomatic clearance to compete in the 12th edition of the Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, 2025. The final decision now rests with the Government of Pakistan.

 

Arnab Goswami questioned the Indian government’s stance on sporting relations with Pakistan in a YouTube video published on Republic World.

 

He said, "Why, if we don’t play cricket with them, do we want to play hockey? We refused to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and forced a shift to Dubai. Why should we welcome their hockey team here? They should not allowed to raise thier flag on Indian soil."

 

 

Highlighting India’s policy of isolating Pakistan in bilateral sports, Arnab added said, "If Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the IPL because they can’t play in India, if their film stars are not allowed to act in our movies, then why should their hockey team be allowed to play on Indian soil? In 2016, the Pakistan Kabaddi team was denied entry for the Kabaddi World Cup. How is hockey different? What is so special about hockey?"

 

Reacting strongly to the news, Pakistani sports journalist Faizan Lakhani slammed what he called India’s “hate-mongering” approach to sports. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "After tarnishing the spirit of India-Pakistan cricket, the venom-spewing Indian media has turned its hate-mongering campaign against hockey. If this is India’s idea of sportsmanship, then they have no right to host international events where Pakistan competes."

 

 

"The Asian Hockey Federation and FIH Hockey must immediately strip India of the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup hosting rights. And let the International Olympic Committee take note: India’s politicization of sports, holding sports events hostage to so-called nationalism, should be enough to disqualify their Olympic bids," he added.

 

Arnab’s statements echo India’s longstanding policy of suspending bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan since 2012. 

 

In 2023, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, resulting in a hybrid hosting model in the UAE and Sri Lanka. Pakistani cricketers have been barred from playing in the Indian Premier League since its second season.

 

The same approach has extended to other sports as well. In 2016, India denied visas to the Pakistani Kabaddi team for the Kabaddi World Cup on security grounds. Pakistani film actors have faced bans too after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). India blamed Pakistan for the attacks, which Pakistan has denied. To date, India has not been able to provide any evidence to support its allegations against Pakistan.

 

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has stated that the team's participation in India depends on government approval. PHF Secretary General Rana Mujahid has previously said that Pakistan will only compete in the Asia Cup if the government grants permission.