In response to recent reports in the media filed basis an interview with Pakistan Hockey Federations Secretary, Shahbaz Ahmed, Hockey India today put on record its views regarding the bilateral relations between them and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
While Hockey India feels most of the issues raised by Shahbaz Ahmed should have been addressed to the International Hockey Federation, however there were a few clarifications which Hockey India has addressed.
The president of International Hockey Federation, Narinder Dhruv Batra, had a dialogue with the representatives of PHF in the presence of Asian Hockey Federation's CEO during the FIH Congress held in Dubai in November 2016.
Here after discussions it was mutually agreed to put the matter of the 2014 Champions Trophy incident to rest. Post this, the matter of the Pakistan team not participating in the Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 was completely a matter of rules and regulations regarding visa applications and other formalities not being adhered to by the PHF within the required stipulated period of time.
Pakistan Hockey Federation failed to submit the visa applications for its team 60 days prior to the start of the tournament as per the required deadlines as stipulated in the permissions of the Government of India.
It is very clearly stipulated that the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs had requested for residents of Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Stateless people and Pakistan to submit their visa application at least 60 days prior to the commencement of the tournament.
FIH also sent numerous reminders to PHF for the submission of the Pakistan team's visa, the decision of FIH to withdraw the Pakistan Hockey team from the Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 was solely at its discretion and has nothing to do with Hockey India.
Speaking on the matter, R.P. Singh, the spokesperson of Hockey India, said, “It is a shame that Pakistan Hockey Federation has again raised the issue of the misbehavior of the Pakistan Hockey team during the FIH Champions Trophy in 2014 as an excuse and opportunity to blame Hockey India for their own incompetence that resulted in the Pakistan team not participating in the Hockey Junior World Cup 2016."
"In light of this Hockey India has again taken the decision to not play any bilateral series against Pakistan unless they submit an unconditional regret in writing for the lewd and unprofessional behavior of the Pakistan team during the FIH Champions Trophy 2014 and their habit of telling perpetual lies to media regarding Hockey India.
"It is high time Pakistan Hockey Federation learns to work as an organisation and stops blaming others for their own internal problems."
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