Government cancels junior hockey team’s Pak tour

Karachi/New Delhi: The fivematch hockey Test series between the junior teams of India and Pakistan was called-off on Monday after the Indian Foreign Ministry refused to give clearance to the national side to travel to the strife-torn country, citing security fears.

The series, seen as a preparation for both the teams ahead of next year’s Junior World Cup, was slated to start today at the refurbished Hockey Club of Pakistan in Karachi but was in tenterhooks since Sunday.

President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia told reporters in Karachi that the series was called off as the Indian government was not satisfied with the security plans for their team.

“When Indian team didn’t arrive on schedule, we got in touch with the Indian hockey officials and they said they are still waiting for clearance from their foreign ministry,” Zia said.

“But at 1600 hrs, we were informed by the Indian hockey officials that they are not coming. The Indian government didn’t clear the tour because they were not happy with the security plan we assured them,” he added.

Zia, a former Olympian and an influential Parliamentarian of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, blamed the Indian government for the last minute cancellation of the tour and said he has already taken up the matter with the Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

“We don’t understand this last minute hiccup. We were waiting and ready to receive their team this afternoon at Wagah border,” he said.

When contacted the officials of ad-hoc committee for Indian hockey — the administrators of the sport in the country — pleaded ignorance about the entire incident.

“I don’t know about any such development. As far as I know the team has left for Amritsar and will leave via Wagah border,” said ad-hoc selection panel chairman Ajitpal Singh.

A K Bansal, the coach of the team, also had no clue about the development.

However, he said that the adhoc committee officials have instructed the team to stay put in Amritsar today and will inform them tomorrow morning whether to proceed to Pakistan.

“I don’t know anything about the development. We are only told to stay in Amritsar today and they will inform us tomorrow morning by 9 a.m. what to do,” Bansal told PTI from Amritsar.

The cancellation of the tour is bound to have adverse impact on Indian cricket team’s tour to Pakistan in January-February next year. PTI