Pakistan Hockey Federation to send 2-member recce team ahead of World Cup

LAHORE: Concerned by the terror attacks in Pune, Pakistan will send a two-member delegation to India to assess the security arrangements for the hockey World Cup starting on February 28 in Delhi.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) today said even though it has decided, in principle, to send the national team to the mega-event, former Olympian and PHF vice president Rana Mujahid and another official, Pervez Bhandara, would leave for New Delhi tomorrow to assess the situation there.

“Their job basically is to go and meet with the Indian security officials and review all the security arrangements being made for our team in the World Cup,” PHF secretary Asif Bajwa told reporters here.

“The security delegation’s visit does not signify in any way that we still have apprehensions about sending our team to India. On that we have got NOC from the government and we have decided our team will leave on February 22 for India,” Bajwa, a former Olympian, said. Bajwa said the task of the security delegation was to report back to the PHF about the security arrangements made by the Indians for the Pakistan team.

“If we feel there are any shortcomings, we will convey this to the Indian officials but our participation is on schedule,” he added.

The Olympian said the security delegation was going to India after clearance from the Indian home ministry on a request from the Pakistan foreign ministry.

Bajwa said the main aim behind sending the delegation was to make sure the players faced no security issues in India and can focus on the World Cup which is a big event.

The Pakistan delegation is going to India at a time when the Indian government is assuring foreigners to take part in
events including the hockey World Cup, Indian Premier League and Commonwealth Games — all to be held in India this year.

Bajwa said Pakistan was happy that the World Cup was being held in the sub-continent after a long time.

“If we have a successful World Cup, it will boost the sport in the region and also highlight the importance of Asian
hockey. So we definitely want to take part in the competition and make it successful,” he said.

Bajwa said the government had already given NOC to the PHF to send team to India and Pakistan very much wanted to take part in the World Cup which was a major event.