Malaysia invited to replace Pak in Junior Hockey WC 2016

TIL Desk Sports/ The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has invited the Malaysian junior men’s team to replace Pakistan in the Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup Men beginning in Lucknow on December 8. Earlier, the Pakistan Government had granted NOC to the country’s Hockey Federation to participate in the tournament.

However, the Indian High Commission kept Pakistan Hockey Federation and players waiting for the visa till Monday, the deadline for PHF to confirm their participation in the tournament. As a result, the FIH was forced to officially withdraw Pakistan’s name from the event. “FIH regrets that Pakistan’s men’s junior team will not be able to take part in this year’s Uttar Pradesh Hockey Junior World Cup even though they had officially qualified.

FIH’s decision follows considerable discussions with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and requests for confirmation that they had the necessary arrangements in place to be able to participate in the event,” the FIH said in a statement. The FIH, which is headed by India’s Dr Narendra Batra, blamed Pakistan for applying visas after the deadline issued.