Pak players told to be quiet ahead of India clash

KARACHI: Pakistan hockey players and officials have been told to keep their emotions in check when they face-off with arch-rivals India in the Asian Champions Trophy match at Kuantan in Malaysia on Sunday.

“Given the existing tensions between the two countries at every level we have asked our players to not only avoid statements on the match but also keep calm and cool no matter what the result of the match,” a top official of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said. The official said that after the Champions Trophy semifinal fiasco in December 2014, the PHF didn’t want more tension with the Indian hockey board.

Pakistan are without their captain and senior most player Mohammad Imran, who missed out on the tournament because of a glitch wherein he sent his passport to the UK consulate for a visa and didn’t get it back on time to travel to Malaysia.

INDIA-KOREA DRAW

India drew 1-1 with South Korea in their second match of their campaign. For India, Lalit Upadhyay equalised in the 33rd minute for India after Junwoo Jeong had given the 1-0 lead to South Korea in the 10th minute.