In what promises a rollicking start to next year's Hero Honda FIH Hockey World Cup, hosts India will take on archrivals Pakistan on the opening day of the mega-event, to be held in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.
Pakistan Hockey Federation spokesman Altaf Sabir said the result could have gone in favour of other teams if the umpiring had been fair and just.
Former national coach Joaquim Carvalho has called for Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra's head for misleading the nation and vindictively keeping players who took part in the rebel World Series Hockey out of the country's London Olympics team.
The German was axed after the team slumped to fourth in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
India beat Pakistan 3-1 to win the gold medal in men's hockey at the Afro-Asian Games.
The Olympic hockey semi-finalists will play two Tests in Chandigarh ahead of the Champions Trophy.
An Indian tennis team will travel to Pakistan after 55 years. The last time they sparred on Pakistan soil was way back in March 1964 in Lahore, where India won 4-0.
Five teams will play in two divisions of the league, which begins on January 13.
The Indian hockey team has been invited for the first Mini World Cup by hosts Netherlands.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) dropped plans to host a four-nation international tournament before the 2010 World Cup after getting lukewarm response from nations invited for the tournament due to the security situation in the country.
The central government will have the power to "impose reasonable restrictions" on the international participation of Indian teams and individual athletes under "extraordinary circumstances", as per the National Sports Governance Bill that was tabled in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation will not bid for the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy, which was shifted from India due to the administrative row over the governance of the game there.
PHF said that Australia was attempting to get this year's Champions Trophy moved out of Pakistan due to security concerns.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has sent a formal request to the sports ministry seeking clearance for sending the national team to India for competing in the World Cup to be held in New Delhi from February 28.
The Indian team management on Monday appealed to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) against suspensions imposed on five members of the squad for their role in the ugly showdown with Pakistan players during the tri-nation tournament match in Burnbury, Australia, last week.
Aziz Khan resigned from the post saying it is "unfair" to continue following his retirement from the country's army.
Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia and India may use the September-scheduled tournament to prepare for the Champions Trophy in December.
Will ask England to probe India's fixing attempt charge: FIH The complaint was lodged with the FIH after Indian team manager Jugraj Singh asked HI to take up the matter seriously with the FIH in his post-tournament report.
While players and teams from other participating nations can venture out as and when they wish, individual outings are a big 'No' for the Pakistani players. They are allowed to visit places in groups only and have to mandatorily inform the security a day in advance.
Harmanpreet, Sreejesh shortlisted for FIH Hockey Stars Awards
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has said it will take up the issue of behaviour of tournament director at the recent Champions Trophy in India with the International Hockey Federation.
The proposed Bangalore event will now be a five-Test series between India and Belgium, the third team that was in the fray.
Star players Rehan Butt, Mudassar Ali Khan, Tariq Aziz and Mohammad Shabbir are in the 18-member team for the December 10-18 Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Chennai.
'If he is being spoken in the same breath as Dhyan Chand, then you can image how good he was.'
The FIH warned the Pakistan hockey team over an incident involving their captain Muhammad Saqlain
Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Shaharyar Khan has refused to follow in the footsteps of Pakistan Hockey Federation which announced this week that it would boycott future international events in India.
Hockey India president Narinder Batra on Monday ruled out Pakistani players participation in future editions of Hockey India League saying they will not be considered until they apologise for their 'unacceptable behaviour' during last year's Champions Trophy.
India failed to make it to the elite six-nation hockey tournament after finishing at the bottom in the last edition in Chennai.
Several candidates, including Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the BJP's Amritsar candidate, are promising resumption of India-Pakistan trade via the Attari-Wagah land route.
Taking a cue from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Hockey India advertised for the position for the first time on its website http://hockeyindia.org.
Former Pakistan captain Tahir Zaman believes the resumption of hockey ties between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will prove beneficial to both countries and will also be a big boost for revival of the sport.
The Pakistan hockey team's behavior, which was heavily criticized for their uncouth gestures after their historic win against India in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy, the International Hockey Federation has banned two Pakistan players from the final against Germany.
Pakistan's national hockey federation (PHF) has expressed confidence that it's players will stay away from the unsanctioned World Hockey Series in India in the wake of the organiser's claim that all those who have signed for the multi-million event will certainly play.
India finished third in the 100th anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation international tournament in Terrassa. The team beat reigning FIH Pro League champions Netherlands 2-1 in the third-fourth play-off match on Sunday.
'Right now hockey is totally changed and anyone can beat anyone depending on the day. It depends on how many chances you create.'
India have been the FIH's top market in the last decade or so in terms of sponsorships and monetary benefits, and the world body official stressed that the country will continue to hold its significance despite the sport spreading its wings to other parts of the world.
For Indian hockey, 2016 was a year in which much was promised and achieved as well. It was also a year where India made significant and visible advancements but deep down somewhere the pain of missing out on an Olympic medal will remain for four more years.
Former India men's hockey head coach Roelant Oltmans blamed the lack of tactical awareness and a non-existent club culture for India's early exit from the 2023 Hockey World Cup.
Come 2024 Paris Olympics, field hockey will be played on a turf that doesn't require watering, International Hockey Federation (FIH) Chief Executive Officer Thierry Weil said, in New Delhi, on Saturday.
Taking strong exception to FIH's "weak" censure to Pakistani players for their obscene behaviour after beating India in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Hockey India decided that it would not host any event sanctioned by the world body until strong punishment is handed out to the offenders.
