LAHORE: Pakistan Hockey Federation has said that the national team would not take part in any hockey event, to be organised in India including the 2018 Junior World Hockey Cup.

“We have decided in principle that we will stay away from all hockey events including the World Cup, being organised in India,” PHF Secretary Shahbaz Ahmad Senior said.

“It is time to pay India in the same coin as Pakistan junior team had deliberately been deprived of participation in the World Junior Hockey Cup.”

He said that the indifferent and unjustified act of the Indian Hockey Federation to keep Pakistan team away from the mega event had set an ugly example.

“If they did not let our team take part in the Cup, we will not be taking part in any hockey event taking place on Indian soil in future,” said the former Pakistan captain in a firm tone.

He said that the elite hockey events to be organised in India in future should be shifted to a neutral venue in the larger interest of the game.

“We have approached Pakistan Olympic Association, International Olympic Committee and world’s other sports organisations and expressed our reservations the way our team had been kept away from the World
Junior Cup by the Indian authorities,” he said adding “Indian hockey authorities’ unwarranted conduct is damaging for our hockey.”

Junior Hockey World Cup is slated to begin in India from November 2018 and Pakistan’s decision to miss the event would definitely leave it colourless for ardent hockey fans around the globe.