Cancellation of junior series rocks Pakistan hockey

AndyGaut 7
ragyrascal 5
The.Rampage.Rado 5
IRN BRU 5
foozbear 5
Rutter 5
JiMMM 4
shepdogg 4
Bulsara 4
juveniliahockey 4

 The Field Hockey Forum is the resource for players, coaches and umpires of Field Hockey. Join FHF now to have full access to all that we have to offer! Don't be satisfied with lurking when you can interact with thousands of other FHF’rs, take part in Competitions, win Prizes, download Coaching Papers, discover our vast Photo library and get rid of this message - Register Now!

[RehanButt]

KARACHI: Reeling under its worst-ever crisis period this year, Pakistan hockey was rocked yet again late Monday when the NBP junior hockey home series between Pakistan and India was called off on the eve of the first Test match due to security concerns shown by the Indian government.

The announcement to this effect was made by a heartbroken Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President, Qasim Zia who said: ‘The Indian junior hockey team will not be coming to play in Pakistan, I’m sorry to say.’

While making clear that the problem wasn’t caused from this side of the border, Qasim said: ‘The Indian team had been issued visas last Friday but we learned at around 7.00pm on Sunday that the Indian government was having second thoughts about sending the team to Pakistan although the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) had sent them as far as Amritsar.’

He was addressing the large media contingent at the recently refurbished Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP), where the new flood lights and sound system were still being tested on Monday evening for the series opener.

A grim-looking PHF secretary Asif Bajwa, also speaking on the occasion, apologised to the media for the delayed press briefing: ‘We are extremely sorry to have kept you waiting but we wanted to ascertain a few things before coming here to speak to you.’

When asked why the PHF waited until now to break this news to the media when they had known about it since yesterday, Qasim said: ‘We approached our Patron ‘n’ Chief, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani with the issue who then instructed the foreign ministry to get involved in the matter. Pakistan’s foreign secretary was asked to get in touch with its Indian counterpart and we were hoping that some good would emerge from the talks. However, it did not happen in the end and we only learned about it this afternoon.’

‘We hoped to begin the revival of Pakistan hockey with this junior series and, therefore, so much hype was created. But our neighbours really let us down,’ he lamented.

Asked why India had suddenly decided to cancel the visit and wasn’t a security plan approved by them in advance, Qasim said: ‘We were prepared with the best possible arrangements. Only they [Indians] would know best why they didn’t reciprocate. They should have at least informed us four or five days in advance.’

When asked about PHF’s back-up plan to the series in order to compensate the disappointment of the young cubs and thousands of fans who eagerly looked ahead to the contest, Qasim said: ‘The five-match series has been cut down to two matches. On Tuesday in Karachi, we the Pakistan veterans will face the junior team.’

The other match, he said, will be played in Lahore on November 21, details of which will be revealed later.

When asked if there were any chances of the series being rescheduled, Qasim said that it was too early to say anything on the issue.

On being asked if the PHF suffered any financial losses due to the cancellation, Qasim said: ‘The money is immaterial. It is the hurt feelings of our nation and setback to the expectations that we are worried about.'

Source: http://www.dawn.net/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/sport/cancellation-of-junior-series-rocks-pakistan-hockey+--bi

I guess a good way to keep up the spirit of hockey between two rivals... I wonder whether Pakistan will be able to play any hockey at this rate. The senior team was already being punished by the hockey community. Now we can include the junior team in the misery as well. The new hockey federation is doing all it can to revive hockey within Pakistan. A lot of effort has been put in the preparation of the tournament. A lot of PR has been done to attract locals. The more Pakistan tries to rectify things the further it gets pushed into the ground.

I've just had enough of this security concern excuse. Pakistan was dragged into this illegitimate war on terror in the first place. We've been the victim of war. We've been fighting a war which wasn't even our own. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost, parts of the country have become unstable and bombs are going off on a daily basis. All this crap never happened before. Due to Western interference Pakistan today has become unsafe. At the same they expect us to do more. This is the way our so-called allies are thanking us for our efforts. I think it's high time that Pakistani politicians asked some tough questions to those that are abandoning Pakistan today. Time has come to abandon the WoT. It's time for the US and her allies to fight their dirty wars on their own. The price has been too high for Pakistan. War has affected everything in this country. Even sports has suffered. Every country has so far cancelled their tour due to security concerns which are related to the WoT.

[Spunko]

Balanced reporting not your cup of tea then?

Any word from India's point of view about the cancellation?

[RehanButt]

Balanced reporting not your cup of tea then?

Any word from India's point of view about the cancellation?

What's balanced reporting got to do with any of this?

You got to be kidding me... Have you even read the news? Their reason is related to security concerns. Read the news before uttering anything.


PS. I thought that I was the king of BAD reps. Damned... LOL

[Spunko]

Without balanced reporting it is impossible to form an objective opinion. The subjective one-sided "news" report above does not give us a good overview of the situation. If the Indian authorities are not allowed to have their say how will we really know what has really gone on?

[Grumpy]

It is sad that the tour was cancelled. I do not know the reasons but i do not think bringing the war on terror or whatever is appropriate on the forum. Political views have to be kept off the forum please.
They cause passions to run high and thngs to be said that are better not voiced.

[RehanButt]

Without balanced reporting it is impossible to form an objective opinion. The subjective one-sided "news" report above does not give us a good overview of the situation. If the Indian authorities are not allowed to have their say how will we really know what has really gone on?

Dude, they have already stated their opinion on the matter. Read for God sake! Their only concern is related to security within Pakistan. They have no other reason to cancel the tour. At least according to their officials. What else do you need to know? Besides, what do you mean by subjective one-sided news? Do you need an Indian source? I'll post it for you if it makes you happy.

[RehanButt]

Indian government cancels junior hockey team's Pakistan tour

KARACHI/NEW DELHI, NOV 10 (PTI)

The five-match hockey Test series between the junior teams of India and Pakistan was today called-off after the Indian Foreign Ministry refused to give clearance to the national side to travel to the strife-torn country, citing security fears.

The series, seen as a preparation for both the teams ahead of next year's Junior World Cup, was slated to start tomorrow at the refurbished Hockey Club of Pakistan in Karachi but was in tenterhooks since yesterday.

President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation Qasim Zia told reporters in Karachi that the series was called off as the Indian government was not satisfied with the security plans for their team.

"When Indian team didn't arrive on schedule, we got in touch with the Indian hockey officials and they said they are still waiting for clearance from their foreign ministry," Zia said.

"But at 1600 hrs, we were informed by the Indian hockey officials that they are not coming. The Indian government didn't clear the tour because they were not happy with the security plan we assured them," he added.

Zia, a former Olympian and an influential Parliamentarian of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party, blamed the Indian government for the last minute cancellation of the tour and said he has already taken up the matter with the Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari.

"We don't understand this last minute hiccup. We were waiting and ready to receive their team this afternoon at Wagah border," he said.

When contacted the officials of ad-hoc committee for Indian hockey -- the administrators of the sport in the country -- pleaded ignorance about the entire incident.

"I don't know about any such development. As far as I know the team has left for Amritsar and will leave via Wagah border," said ad-hoc selection panel chairman Ajitpal Singh.

A K Bansal, the coach of the team, also had no clue about the development.

However, he said that the ad-hoc committee officials have instructed the team to stay put in Amritsar today and will inform them tomorrow morning whether to proceed to Pakistan.

"I don't anything about the development. We are only told to stay in Amritsar today and they will inform us tomorrow morning by 9 a.M. What to do," Bansal told PTI from Amritsar.

Meanwhile, the cancellation of the series comes as yet another blow to Pakistan's chances of hosting international sports events at home.

Some feel that the cancellation of the tour is bound to have adverse impact on Indian cricket team's tour to Pakistan in January-February next year.

Pakistan cricket and other sports have been badly hit this year due to regular postponement of many scheduled tours because of the uncertain security conditions prevalent in the country.

Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=631476

[RehanButt]

India junior hockey team's Pakistan visit cancelled

Karachi, Nov 10: India on Monday cancelled its five-match junior hockey series against Pakistan at the last moment citing security concerns, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president said.

PHF chief Qasim Zia said that the series, scheduled to get underway in Karachi on Tuesday, had to be scrapped after the Indian authorities refused to give clearance to the team.

"We are really disappointed at the cancellation as all the arrangements were made and everybody was eagerly looking forward to the series," said Zia, a former Pakistan Olympian.

Pakistan and India had agreed to play the bilateral series in a bid to prepare their teams for the Junior World Cup to be played in Singapore and Malaysia in June.

The matches of the Nov 11-21 series were supposed to be played in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Lahore.

Zia said the Indian colts reached Amritsar on Monday to cross the Wagah border but were stopped by their authorities to cross the border.

"We feel let down by India," said Zia, also a powerful politician of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party and member of the Punjab Assembly.

But Zia was quick to add that he had no complaints with the Indian Hockey Federation. "The Indian federation did all it could to save the series but its hands were tied. It's the Indian government that decided that the team should not go to Pakistan," he said.

Zia said the PHF will now replace the series with two exhibition games to be played between Pakistan Juniors and Pakistan veterans under floodlights on November 11 in Karachi and November 21 in Lahore.

Bureau Report

Source: http://www.zeenews.com/sports/others/2008-11-11/482441news.html

[RehanButt]

India calls off junior hockey tourney in Pakistan

India today cancelled its five-match junior hockey series which was scheduled begin from tomorrow against Pakistan at the eleventh hour citing security concerns.

''It is very disappointing that the tournament had to be cancelled even though all the arrangements were made and everybody was eagerly looking forward to the series,'' Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Qasim Zia told mediapersons in Karachi today.

The bilateral series was being seen as a preparation for the Junior World Cup to be played in Singapore and Malaysia in June this year.

The five matches were scheduled to be played in Karachi Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot and the last match was be played here on Novemeber 21. Zia further informed that the Indian team had already reached Amritsar today and were soon to cross the Wagah border but the team authorities refused to give them clearance and stopped them.

''We feel let down by India,'' said Zia who is also a former Olympian and added that he had nothing against the Indian hockey Federation. ''The Indian federation did all it could to save the series but its hands were tied. It's the Indian government that decided that the team should not go to Pakistan,'' he stated.

The tournament was scheduled to begin at the refurbished Hockey Club in Karachi under flood lights but will now be replaced with two exhibition games to be played between Pakistan Juniors and Pakistan veterans.

Source: http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20081110/1101164.html

[RehanButt]

You convinced now? Or do you need more reliable Indian sources?

[philthy]

What's your issue here RehanButt?

The Indian team aren't going because of security concerns
Fair enough

It's not unheard of for sports teams to cancel trips because of security concerns - I believe there was recent fear that Wales would be unable to play a football fixture in Georgia during the South Ossetia crisis.

It's a shame, but I don't see why you're getting so het up about the war on terror.

And, I'm going to regret saying this - your Indian sources you've posted are still quoting Pakistan officials. There's no quote from an Indian offical.

[RehanButt]

What's your issue here RehanButt?

The Indian team aren't going because of security concerns
Fair enough

It's not unheard of for sports teams to cancel trips because of security concerns - I believe there was recent fear that Wales would be unable to play a football fixture in Georgia during the South Ossetia crisis.

It's a shame, but I don't see why you're getting so het up about the war on terror.

And, I'm going to regret saying this - your Indian sources you've posted are still quoting Pakistan officials. There's no quote from an Indian offical.

What are you going on about? Are you somehow lecturing me that I don't know what's going on in the country that I have roots in? Well, please spare me your lecture. I'm fully aware about the conditions of Pakistan.

Yes, the main reason for other countries to cancel their tour of Pakistan is due to security concerns! Stop denying that. The Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, India and others have all given this as their main reason. What other reason could there be? Please enlighten me if you know better. I also know that the deteriorating security situation stems from the illegal WoT which Pakistan is taking part in. That isn't rocket science believe me. Why am I getting so heated about it? What if your country became unsafe due to war and instability? A war that was inflicted on your country by force. How would you feel if even sports got affected by it? Let alone daily life and the state of the country. Don't I even have the right now to complaint about the miserable situation? Do you just want me to shut up and sit back whilst each country keeps on citing security concerns? It's about time that we get to the bottom of the situation and highlighted the real issues.

[philthy]

Not too brilliant - and no one's saying that you should be happy about it. It's awful that something that can be as uniting as sport is being affected by the situation in Pakistan.

But, I don't see why you're ranting at people on here!

All Spunko asked was that it would be nice to see the Indian's perspective on the situation.

[RehanButt]

Not too brilliant - and no one's saying that you should be happy about it. It's awful that something that can be as uniting as sport is being affected by the situation in Pakistan.

But, I don't see why you're ranting at people on here!

All Spunko asked was that it would be nice to see the Indian's perspective on the situation.

Well, Spunko got his answer. I have posted a few Indian sources and they clearly state the reason. Something which he was denying for a reason that I know. I know where the denial stems from. I don't know what's itching you, but why are you denying it all of a sudden? What other possible motive could India have to cancel this tour? Give me the answer please. You know it, don't you? Please enlighten me.

[philthy]

I'm not denying anything... What do you think I'm suddenly denying?

I'd also like to see the Indian's version of this... not just what Pakistan officials say the Indian officials have said.