LAHORE: Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Bhubaneswar 2021 has been confirmed after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said that the Indian High Commission had issued the visas required for its squad.
PHF secretary Asif Bajwa confirmed to local media that 80% of the visas for the Pakistan squad had been received on Monday, and the remainder on Tuesday.
The Junior World Cup featuring junior teams from 16 countries is scheduled to be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India from November 24 to December 5.
“The government of Pakistan has also issued the PHF [the] NOC for the participation and the Indian High Commissioner also issued timely visas to the Pakistan squad and now the team will depart for India on November 20,” Bajwa said.
According to the PHF secretary, Pakistan will play two practice matches off-camera, first against Chile on November 21 and then against Canada on November 22, before taking on Germany in the first match of the World Cup on November 24. Pakistan then face Egypt on November 27 and Argentina on November 28.
According to the PHF secretary, the hosts had given a waiver from the quarantine period but the teams will stay in a bio-secure bubble and the fans are also not allowed to visit the venue.
