Pakistan Hockey Federation is still awaiting the No Objection Certificate from its government to send its national squad for the Junior Hockey World Cup, to be held in Lucknow from December 8.
Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Rana Mujahid is "frustrated" that the national sport is struggling to lure sponsors due to lack of international success in recent years and felt the scene was much better in India.
Keen to revive bilateral ties with India, the Pakistan Hockey Federation is planning to host the country for a Test series and has got the government's clearance for it even though the dates are yet to be finalised.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has sought advice and security clearance from its government to send its team to New Delhi for the World Cup, which begins on February 28. PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said the federation is seeking security clearance from government ministries as it has concerns over playing in India.
Pakistan's sports minister Riaz Pirzada has said that consultations would be held with the relevant government ministries to consider imposing a complete ban on sports team from the country taking part in any event on Indian soil. "We are considering taking such a step after the treatment meted out to the Pakistan junior hockey team by the Indian High Commission and the International Hockey Federation which is headed by an Indian," he told the media.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation said it would not consider the trio of Sohail Abbas, Mohammad Saqlain and Waseem Ahmed for selection because they deserted the team.
The duo were left out of the squad for the twin series in Australia on disciplinary grounds.
India will battle it out against the likes of South Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan and China in the Asian Champions Trophy.
The ace full-back was named in the 18-man team for the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation called off its planned three-nation tournament later this month after India pulled out of the event. India's withdrawal came after Malaysia, the third team in the proposed tournament, pulled out two days back.
Pakistan's hopes of hosting the Champions Trophy men's hockey tournament received another jolt as Britain, the replacement for Australia, expressed unwillingness to tour the country.
Pakistan will not be able to send its national team for Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia next month and the junior team to Singapore unless the government released the promised funds, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has said.
'The PCB will share the report with the ICC and BCCI if the delegation has any concerns.'
Why India can't deny Pakistan entry to multi-lateral events on its soil
Pakistan Hockey Federation had sought a loan from the PCB to send the team to Bhubaneswar and clear the outstanding dues of players.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation has allowed eight Pakistan Olympians to take part in the Indian league.
Former India captain Dhanraj Pillay on Monday batted for participation of Pakistan's players in the Hockey India League (HIL) tournament and urged Hockey India to take up the issue with politicians to ensure their presence in the future editions of the franchise-based league.
FIH president Tayyab Ikram asserted that the dynamics of the sport would not be compromised at any cost when they try out the proposed penalty corner rule.
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 International Hockey Federation (FIH) is planning to have India and Pakistan play their home and away matches in Europe if the arch-rivals face off in the Olympic qualifying tournament for a berth at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The Odisha government claimed that it is the world's largest facility in terms of seating capacity and certified by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Pakistan's penalty-corner ace however said he would be available for major tournaments if the country needs him.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Wednesday
Hockey is struggling to survive in the country because of lack of sponsors owing to the national team's poor show at the international stage.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Friday said the training of its team for the Junior World Cup in the Indian city of Lucknow is in full swing, even as it awaited clearance from the government. Shahbaz Ahmed, Secretary of the PHF, said an unnecessary controversy had been created in the media whether Pakistan would participate in the Junior World Cup, to be played December 8-18 in India.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation dropped Mohammad Saqlain, Sohail Abbas, Waseem Ahmad, Ghazanfar Ali and Dilawar Hussain for failing to report for a preparatory camp.
Pakistan's retired hockey international Rehan Butt, who was appointed coach of the national team taking part in the 12th South Asian Games, turned out as a player in the team's first two matches, including Monday's victory over hosts India.
Mohammad Saqlain will lead the Pakistan side in the hockey World Cup in Germany next month.
Rising political tension has adversely affected the bilateral sporting ties between India and Pakistan but newly-elected FIH chief Narinder Batra on Saturday said the two nations will have to honour their international commitments. The tension at the border has cast a shadow over Pakistan's participation in the next month's FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow but Batra's comments make it clear that the two neighbours are set to clash against each other on Indian soil.
Defender Dilip Tirkey will lead the team for the four-Test series, starting on September 24.
India and Pakistan need to improve to survive in world hockey, thinks PHF secretary Akhtar Ul Islam.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, on Wednesday, said that the national men's team will travel to Pakistan for qualifiers in case it fails to directly qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
'It is all about money (that BCCI wants to play Pakistan) but in times like these you have to rise above monetary gains'
The International Hockey Federation is planning to introduce two wild card entries in the Champions Trophy from next year which will increase the number of competing teams in the prestigious event from six to eight, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary Asif Bajwa said on Tuesday.
The Azlan Shah Cup is the latest sporting event to be hit by the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed more than 3,000 lives and infected 86,000 people across the world.
The Indian Men's Hockey Team Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh opened up on the team's preparations for the upcoming 100th Anniversary Spanish Hockey Federation - International Tournament and Hero Asian Champions Trophy.
Upset over Pakistan's worst performance in a hockey World Cup, the national federation sacked its selection committee and team management while the entire 18-man squad resigned, owning moral responsibility for the shoddy show in the 12th edition of the tournament in Delhi.
It said Mohammad Saqlain accompany the team to Chennai for the Champions Trophy despite the three-match ban imposed on him.
Reigning silver medallists India will open their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in a mouth-watering men's hockey contest of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
From its inception in 1971 till 1978, the World Cup was held every alternate year. Then it was made a once-in-four years affair, beginning with the 1982 edition.
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