Printed Article. Times of India

New Zealand to replace Pakistan in Gold Cup

BANGALORE: New Zealand will replace Pakistan as the fourth team in the Punjab Gold Cup hockey tournament in Chandigarh, bringing to an end the unc
ertainty and speculation that threatened to mar the run-up to the four-nation event.

Punjab sports director Pargat Singh told TOI that the Black Sticks had confirmed their participation. “We are glad New Zealand accepted our invitation. We were keen on getting a good replacement for Pakistan and New Zealand, with all their top players in the squad, will make the competition even tougher.”

The decision also sets at rest the question of Pakistan’s participation in the January 31-February event. Ever since the Mumbai terror attacks, which led to the cancellation of the cricket team’s tour to Pakistan, the opinion that India ought to severe sporting ties with their neighbour has pervaded government circles.

Even top officials in the IOA’s ad-hoc committee said they were against inviting Pakistan to the tournament. In fact, the decision to look for another team for the Punjab tournament was virtually based on this premise. What also apparently goaded the ad-hoc committee, which helped the organisers rope in New Zealand, was the statement by the Pakistani bureaucracy that they weren’t too keen on continuing sporting ties with India. A few days later, IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi announced that the country was indeed looking for a replacement for Pakistan.

“Hockey New Zealand were only too glad to play in the tournament,” committee sources told TOI. “Obviously, they haven’t toured India in a long time and the exposure would suit them fine. The tour would be bilateral as India are scheduled to visit New Zealand for a four-test series in February-March.”

Teams in the fray: Germany (world ranking 1), the Netherlands (4), New Zealand (7), India (11).

Courtesy: Times of India