Visa issues delay Pakistan hockey team’s arrival in India
NEW DELHI : The Pakistan hockey team on Monday postponed its travel plans to India for the World Cup in Bhubaneswar by three days and will now arrive on Saturday.
“Three members of our contingent still have not got the visas. The Indian embassy has dispatched the passports and we should get them by tomorrow (Tuesday),” said Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary general Shahbaz Ahmad said in Lahore.
“It makes no sense to send the contingent in two batches,” he added.
Out of the 24-member contingent, comprising 18 players and six support staff, head coach Tauqeer Dar, assistant coach Danish Kaleem and Muhammad Irfan Jr (player) did not get their visas on Friday.
The prestigious tournament starts in the historic, ancient city in Odisha from November 28 and Pakistan are scheduled to play their first game, against Germany, on December 1.
“Also, there is no point coming earlier when our match is on December 1,” added Ahmad.
“We also decided to postpone our departure so that the boys don’t feel homesick.”
The most successful team in the history of the World Cup, four-time winners Pakistan have been clubbed along with Germany, Netherlands and Malaysia in Pool D.
GOVERS RETIRES
Australia forward Kieran Govers on Monday announced his retirement from international hockey, effective immediately. The 30-year-old enjoyed a decorated career, debuting in January 2010 against South Korea in Hobart.
Govers won two World Cups (2010, 2014), three Champions Trophy titles (2010, 2011, 2012), one World League Final (2014-15), one Oceania Cup (2011), Commonwealth Games gold (2014) and an Olympic bronze (2012).
He represented Australia 126 times, scoring 60 goals, including the memorable goals in the 2012 Champions Trophy, 2012 London Olympics and 2014 World Cup.
“It’s a sad day to know that I have announced my retirement but a happy time to celebrate what was. You never want it to end and always want to keep playing but having a great chat with coach Colin Batch about the future and how it might go it was time to go in different directions,” Govers said.