BHUBANESWAR: Pakistan will participate in the Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup scheduled to begin in Kalinga Stadium, here from November 28, International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Narinder Batra asserted Sunday.
Ruling out any doubt over participation of Pakistan in the prestigious tournament, Batra said all 16 countries have consented to play. “After Pakistan applies for visa, I hope the Indian government will grant its consent to the team to participate in the World Cup,” New Indian Express quotes Batra as having said at a media briefing.
Since it is not a bilateral series, the ban should not be applicable, he said. Besides, in case of any international tournament, the host country is always liberal to provide visas to the participating countries, Batra added.
The World Cup fixture was prepared well before the schedule date and each participating country was extended an invitation. Pakistan had participated in the Asian Athletics Championships in 2017, Batra said.
HIL to resume in November 2019
Batra added that the Hockey India League (HIL) would resume after a two-year gap in November 2019. Kalinga Lancers, the team owned by Odisha Government, was the champion in the last edition of HIL in 2017. Batra said the tournament was suspended in 2018 due to a conflict in dates of the schedule of HIL with major international events.
Batra was essentially reaffirming an assertion made in December 2017 by Hockey India CEO Elena Norman that HIL would make a “grand return” in 2019 and serve as the season-ending event to a busy international calendar.
There have been doubts over the league’s future ever since HI scrapped the 2018 edition.
