As the anticipation builds for the upcoming Asia Cup and Junior Hockey World Cup, both set to be held in India later this year, the participation of the Pakistan men's hockey team remains uncertain. Despite reports suggesting that the Indian government has given the green light for the team's travel, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey has stated that the board has not yet received any official clearance from the government regarding the matter.
Tirkey, a former captain of the Indian hockey team, conveyed that he is also hearing news from media about the approval, and is awaiting official confirmation from the Sports Ministry. He welcomed the decision to allow Pakistan teams to participate in the upcoming multi-nation tournaments in India. He believes that if the government has indeed granted approval, it would be a positive development for hockey.
The Asia Cup is scheduled to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, while the Junior World Cup will be held in Chennai and Madurai from November 28 to December 10. Pakistan is among the participating countries in both these important tournaments.
According to a Sports Ministry source, the decision to allow Pakistan's participation was made because blocking them would contravene the Olympic Charter. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) have reportedly given their approval, and the visa process for the players has been initiated.
Tirkey acknowledged the significance of India hosting these two major tournaments and noted that Pakistan is one of the participating countries. He emphasized that matches between India and Pakistan are always highly anticipated and generate significant interest in the sport. He believes that the Asian giants playing against each other will be good for the publicity of the game and it will also be good for the success of the tournament.
Tirkey mentioned that preparations are underway for the tournaments. Considering the recent tensions between the two countries, he anticipates that tight security measures will be implemented for the Pakistan team's visit.
He also added that he would get in touch with the Pakistan Hockey Federation about the participation of the teams once the picture becomes clear. While there has been no recent communication, he affirmed that Pakistan is a participant country, and communication will occur once the situation is clarified.
Earlier this year, there were doubts regarding Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup due to diplomatic tensions and security concerns. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had even expressed concerns and requested the Asian Hockey Federation to guarantee visas for their team's participation.
Despite the uncertainties, a high-level source in the government stated that the decision to allow Pakistan's participation aligns with the Indian government's efforts to separate politics and sports, while adhering to the Olympic Charter, which promotes inclusion and harmony among participating nations.
