NEW DELHI: Given a handle by a Pakistan Hockey Federation playing to the galleries, Hockey India has reiterated it won't play any bilateral series with its traditional rival unless the PHF submits an unconditional written apology for the actions of its players during the 2014 Champions Trophy.
PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmad had recently alleged that their team was denied participation in the Junior World Cup last year in Lucknow only because of the Champions Trophy semifinal incident in Bhubaneswar.
Pakistani players had taken off their shirts and made obscene gestures at the crowd on winning the semi-final against India after they were heckled throughout the game by overly jingoistic home supporters.
Responding to Ahmad's allegations, HI stated that most of the issues raised by the PHF secretary "should have been addressed to the International Hockey Federation".
Further, HI sought to set the record straight pointing out that FIH president Narinder Dhruv Batra, when he was heading HI, "had a meaningful dialogue with PHF representatives in the presence of CEO, Asian Hockey Federation during the FIH Congress held in Dubai in November 2016. Here after discussions it was mutually agreed to put the matter of the 2014 Champions Trophy incident to rest".
Post this, the matter of the Pakistan team not participating in the Uttar Pradesh Men's Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 was "completely a matter of Rules and Regulations regarding visa applications and other formalities not being adhered" to by the PHF "within the required stipulated period of time", HI has claimed.
According to HI, its counterparts failed to submit visa applications for their team 60 days prior to the start of the tournament as per the required deadlines as stipulated in the permissions of the Government of India (a copy of which was sent to the PHF on 29 August 2016).
HI further states: "It is very clearly stipulated that the Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs had requested for residents of Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, Stateless persons and Pakistan to submit their visa application at least 60 days prior to the commencement of the tournament to avoid the visa applications being rejected.
"Since Pakistan Hockey Federation failed to adhere to the deadlines for the submission of their visa's, Hockey India cannot be blamed for the consequent rejection of invitation by FIH. FIH also sent numerous reminders for Pakistan Hockey Federation for the submission of the Pakistan teams visa, the decision of FIH to withdraw the Pakistan Hockey team from the Hockey Junior World Cup 2016 was solely at their discretion and has nothing to do with Hockey India."
Speaking on the matter, spokespersom and athlete representative on the executive board of Hockey India Dr RP Singh is quoted as stating: "It is a shame that Pakistan Hockey Federation has again raised the issue of the misbehavior of the Pakistan Hockey team during the FIH Champions Trophy in 2014 as an excuse and opportunity to blame Hockey India for their own incompetence that resulted in the Pakistan team not participating in the Hockey Junior World Cup 2016. In light of this and the perpetual lies told by Pakistan Hockey Federation to blame others for their own inefficiencies, Hockey India has again taken the decision to not play any bi-lateral series against Pakistan unless they submit an unconditional regret in writing for the lewd and unprofessional behavior of the Pakistan team during the FIH Champions Trophy 2014 and their habit of telling perpetual lies to media regarding Hockey India. We once again reiterate that Pakistan Hockey Federation should learn to take responsibility for their incompetence and incapabilities and stop blaming India to please their local audience. It is high time Pakistan Hockey Federation learns to work as an organisation and stops blaming others for their own internal problems."
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