‘Give visas or Pakistan will not play World Cup’
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the current political scenario, Pakistan’ s participation in the FIH men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 seems to be in jeopardy. Although the World Cup in O dish a is more than a year away, the Pakistan Hockey Federation(PHF) has demanded that its team get Indian visas on time and guaranteed full security.
Just like cricket, India and Pakistan continue to play in multi- team international tournaments. India beat Pakistan twice in the FIH Hockey League Semi finals in London in June and will clash once more in Dhaka during the Asia Cup in October. But Pakistan’ s participation in the World Cup is still unclear.
In an interview with Hindustan Times in June this year, PHF secretary-general Shahbaz Ahmed said how the failure to play a bilateral series has hurt Asian hockey. Both India versus Pakistan matches in June drew full houses in London.
“It pains to see how the climate of politics has hurt sport. Look at the camaraderie between India and Pakistan cricketers. It can be the same in hockey,” said Shahbaz.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation president Khalid K ho karon Friday threatened not to send its national team to India next year without assurance of foolproof security and easy procurement of visas, reports PTI.
The PHF president told the media that during recent meetings wit hF I Hp resident N arin der Batra in Dubai, he had made it clear that Pakistan should be guaranteed top security during the World Cup in India.
“We had a very good meeting as we conveyed all our concerns to Batra and other FIH member boards. I have made it clear to them that we want assurances from FIH that we will face no problems with procurement of visa and will be given top security during the event,” Khokar claimed to have told Batra, who was the boss of Hockey India.
In an email to Hindustan Times, FIH communication manager Daniel Parker said Pakistan have not raised concerns and therefore issuing any assurances to PHF regarding security and visas did not arise.
“Without any concerns noted, there has not been any need to give any assurances. We expect that every nation who has qualified for the World Cup will complete all necessary paperwork ahead of our deadline sin order to confirm their participation in this event,” Parker wrote to HT.
In the past, Batra has expressed his reluctance to play hockey with Pakistan. On June 18, when India clashed with Pakistan in London in the Hockey League Semis, the Manpreet Singh-led team wore black armbands to show its protest against attack on Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir.
It did not go down well with the international teams and Batra apologised for comments made on India-Pakistan relationship on social media.
FIH had to exclude Pakistan from the Junior World Cup in Lucknow last year following visa issues. The FIH has clarified that Pakistan did not fulfill official obligations to secure India visas.
“The reason Pakistan did not participate in the men’s Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup was because the Pakistan Hockey Federation failed to provide confirmation that it had the necessary arrangements in place to be able to participate in the event. “To remind you, they had applied for visas for the event after the official deadline and no accommodation was confirmed within the set deadlines,” wrote Parker.
It pains to see how the climate of politics has hurt sport. Look at the camaraderie between India and Pakistan cricketers. It can be the same in hockey
SHAHBAZ AHMED, Pakistan Hockey Federation secretary-general