Pakistan’s participation in next month’s Men’s Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament in India will depend on clearance from its government, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani has said.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, with India, Pakistan, China, Japan, Malaysia and Korea set to compete. Oman and Bangladesh have been named as reserve teams in case of withdrawals.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, Wani, who is also federal secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, said the PHF would follow the government’s decision regarding the national team’s participation.
“The visit of the Pakistan team will depend on government clearance. We will do whatever the government asks us to do,” Wani said.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had said on Monday that Pakistan would travel to India for the tournament, while clarifying that bilateral India-Pakistan series remain barred under the existing policy.
“There is no problem in multi-national tournaments. Bilateral series between India and Pakistan cannot take place,” Mann said.
A Sports Ministry office memorandum issued on May 5 stated that Pakistani players and teams could participate in multilateral sporting events hosted by India, while indicating a more supportive visa regime for athletes, officials and representatives of international sports federations.
The league stage of the Asian Champions Trophy will be played in Jalandhar from October 27 to November 2, followed by the semi-finals on November 4 and the final on November 5.
The highly anticipated India-Pakistan league match is scheduled for November 1 in Jalandhar and will coincide with Punjab Day.
“The India-Pakistan encounter on November 1 in Jalandhar will be one of the biggest attractions of the tournament. The match will coincide with Punjab Day, making the occasion even more special for the people of Punjab,” Mann said.
Pakistan had withdrawn from the Junior World Cup in Tamil Nadu last year after pulling out of the Men’s Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar, citing heightened tensions between the two countries.