Pakistan and India gamers in motion throughout their Junior Hockey Asia Cup 2024 remaining on the Hockey Oman Stadium in Al Amarat on December 4, 2024. — Asian Hockey Federation
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan males’s hockey workforce has formally withdrawn from the upcoming Junior Hockey World Cup scheduled to be held in India amid tensions between the neighbouring international locations.
In an announcement, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid stated the federation has formally knowledgeable the Worldwide Hockey Federation (FIH) that Pakistan wouldn’t take part within the event underneath the prevailing circumstances.
He added that Pakistan had proposed the choice of enjoying its matches at a impartial venue as a substitute. “It is by no means appropriate to travel to India and play under the current situation,” he stated.
The transfer comes within the backdrop of heightened tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi following a four-day armed battle in Might — the worst between the outdated foes in a long time.
The battle was sparked by a terrorist assault on vacationers in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Pahalgam space, which New Delhi stated was backed by Pakistan.
After the incident, India killed a number of harmless civilians in unprovoked assaults on Pakistan for 3 days earlier than the Pakistan Armed Forces retaliated in defence with the profitable Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
Pakistan downed six IAF fighter jets, together with three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at the least 87 hours, the battle between the 2 nuclear-armed nations ended on Might 10 with a ceasefire settlement brokered by the US.
In the same transfer earlier, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in August withdrew from Asia Cup, citing safety considerations.
The controversy began when India determined to not enable its workforce to cross the border for the Champions Trophy, which Islamabad slammed as politicisation of sports activities.
Later, each international locations agreed on a “fusion formula”, underneath which India participated within the mega event at a impartial venue fairly than within the host nation, Pakistan.
Pakistan was additionally pressured to host Asia Cup 2023 on a hybrid mannequin with India’s matches and the ultimate hosted in Sri Lanka. Pakistan did, nevertheless, play in India through the 2023 ICC World Cup hosted there.
