The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary, Haider Hussain, has stated that the national hockey team will require approval from the federal government before traveling to India for the Asian Champions Trophy. Tensions between India and Pakistan have been high, which means the national hockey team needs to receive clearance from the government before they can travel to India. Hussain explained that they would speak to the government after Eid ul Fitr on this matter. Furthermore, he added that they would share their concerns about the security of the national side with the Indian hockey federation.
The Asian Champions Trophy is an event that includes six teams and is set to take place from August 3-12 in Chennai. Meanwhile, the first phase of the Pakistan junior hockey team’s training camp in Lahore at DHA Hockey Academy has ended. This training camp was set up to prepare for the Junior Asia Hockey Cup 2023, and the camp will resume after the Eid holidays.
The Junior Asia Hockey Cup will take place from May 23 to June 1 in Salalah, Oman. The Pakistan junior team will play some warm-up matches against other participating teams before the event begins. The teams have been split into two pools, with Pakistan in Pool A alongside India, Japan, Thailand, and Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, Pool B consists of Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Bangladesh, and Uzbekistan.
Sources in the PHF confirmed that arranging international matches series with Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan had failed due to the countries being busy with their training schedules. However, the PHF has an alternative plan to provide match practice to the juniors. During the training camp in Lahore, at least nine practice matches will be arranged against Pakistan senior team players and strong departmental teams, according to sources in the PHF. Details of these matches will be announced soon.
In summary, due to strained relations between India and Pakistan, the national hockey team needs permission from the government before going to India for the Asian Champions Trophy. The Pakistan junior hockey team has completed the first phase of their training camp in Lahore and will continue training after the Eid holidays to prepare for the Junior Asia Hockey Cup 2023. The PHF has arranged for the junior team to play warm-up matches against other participating teams before the event begins. Finally, the PHF’s attempts to arrange international matches with other countries failed, but they have an alternative plan to provide match practice to the juniors.
