Pakistan cancels hockey team's tour to India

Karachi, Jan 2 (PTI) In a tit-for-tat response, Pakistan
Friday decided to call off its hockey team's tour to India for
the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup tournament to be held later
this month, citing "security risks for the players" as the
reason for the cancellation.

The decision, which was expected after India scrapped its
cricket team's tour across the border in the wake of the
Mumbai terror attacks, will further strain the sporting ties
between the two countries.

Although Pakistan Hockey Federation was keen to send the
national team to India, they left the final decision on the
Foreign Office.

In view of the mounting tensions between the two
nations, Sports Minister Jillani said the government had
decided not to send the hockey team to India.

"There is a security risk in sending our players to India
at this stage because of the mood in India. So we have not
given permission to the PHF for the tour," he said.

Interestingly, Jillani's announcement came after the
organisers of the tournament had already named New Zealand as
Pakistan's replacement in the double-leg event that also
features Beijing Olympic gold medallist Germany, the
Netherlands and host India.

Pakistan's particpation in the tournament, to be held in
Chandigarh from January 31, had come under cloud after Indian
government cancelled the cricket team's tour to the strife
torn nation.

There was popular sentiment among citizens and former
players that since Indian government refused to send their
cricket team, Pakistani teams should also scrap their India
tours in a retaliatory move. PTI COR
SAK