The Pakistan Hockey Federation has informed the FIH, the global regulatory body of the game that it would be difficult for the Asia Cup to send its team to India for the month of the month due to security concerns. PHF chief Tariq Bugti said that he has written a letter to the FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation and informed about his decision to send the team to India.

He said that, we have informed them that in the current scenario our team may have to face security hazards while playing in India. We have told them that our players are not keen to go to India for the Asia Cup. There is also a qualifying tournament for the Asia Cup World Cup. The PHF chief said that now the responsibility of taking decisions about the competition and Pakistan matches is on the AFEH and AHF.

He said that, we have asked him to tell us whether our players will be safe in India and will be able to focus on the tournament. The Government of Pakistan has not yet made any official statement on this issue but recently a senior government official said that the team will not go to India

Let me tell you that earlier sources in the Indian Sports Ministry had clarified that they will not stop the Pakistan hockey team from joining the Asia Cup to be held in India next month. The source of the Sports Ministry quoted PTI as saying that they are not against the involvement of any team in the multi-national tournament. The Hockey Asia Cup is to be held from 27 August to 7 September in Rajgir, Bihar.