DUBAI — In a positive turn of events, Pakistan has taken a bold stand by deciding to participate in the hockey world cup in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.
Former players and administrators have advised against their participation especially to snub the Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers after the promoters of the world’s richest cricket tournament rejected the Green Shirts for this year’s edition in India.
IPL had a few days back ignored all the 11 Pakistan players listed for auction which the Indian industrial houses and mega movie stars put money on the table to recruit the leading international cricketers into their folds.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation are right now in the processing with the government to clear and get NOCs for every player in the world cup squad.
Pakistan became eligible the hard way, having to qualify through a tournament in Lille, France in November last.
Playing legend and drag flicker Sohail Abbas, who was amongst those who initially opposed Pakistan taking part in New Delhi, scored twice as Pakistan thrashed Japan 3-1 in the qualification final.
Pakistan in Pool B will play Australia, Spain, England, Pakistan, South Africa and India before they can entertain ideas of moving into the last four as a top two finisher in the Delhi world cup.
In fact the feature match on the opening night at the renovated Major Dyanchand National Stadium will be between India and Pakistan.
The other sides in the 12-nation showdown are Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina in Pool A.
India who lost in the qualifiers in Argentina last year, qualified for the world cup on account of being hosts.
Doubts about India losing out on the right to hold the event on account of a further delay in their ‘promised’ elections to the national body, were cleared by the international body (FIH).
In a communiqué to Hockey India (HI) the FIH lamented a further delay in the much-awaited elections.
The FIH said the elections have been pushed back thrice but assured it would have no bearing on India’s chance both as host and as participant in the mega-event.
“The FIH regrets that there is another delay in the election process for Hockey India. The Hero Honda FIH World Cup will take place in New Delhi, India from 28 February-13 March 2010 with the twelve participants as qualified,” the FIH said.
While granting the World Cup, the FIH had made it clear that a democratically elected Hockey India with both the men’s and women’s wing under one roof must be in place before the mega-event or else it would be shifted out of the country.
However, the FIH later softened its stand and said that the world cup would be held in India but the hosts would be restricted from participating in it if an elected federation was not put in place on time.
The latest election date of February 7 was postponed after the Rajasthan High Court had put a stay order on its entire electoral college after the various factions in the state associations objected to the way the game is being run in the country.
The election of HI was first scheduled for November 18 last year but was later pushed back to January 29 after the sports ministry had asked it to be deferred as some state units raised doubts over the process of affiliation.
But the polls have to be deferred again from its January 29 schedule after HI failed to give a 21-day mandatory notice to all the stakeholders of the election process.
Former players and administrators have advised against their participation especially to snub the Indian Premier League (IPL) organisers after the promoters of the world’s richest cricket tournament rejected the Green Shirts for this year’s edition in India.
IPL had a few days back ignored all the 11 Pakistan players listed for auction which the Indian industrial houses and mega movie stars put money on the table to recruit the leading international cricketers into their folds.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation are right now in the processing with the government to clear and get NOCs for every player in the world cup squad.
Pakistan became eligible the hard way, having to qualify through a tournament in Lille, France in November last.
Playing legend and drag flicker Sohail Abbas, who was amongst those who initially opposed Pakistan taking part in New Delhi, scored twice as Pakistan thrashed Japan 3-1 in the qualification final.
Pakistan in Pool B will play Australia, Spain, England, Pakistan, South Africa and India before they can entertain ideas of moving into the last four as a top two finisher in the Delhi world cup.
In fact the feature match on the opening night at the renovated Major Dyanchand National Stadium will be between India and Pakistan.
The other sides in the 12-nation showdown are Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina in Pool A.
India who lost in the qualifiers in Argentina last year, qualified for the world cup on account of being hosts.
Doubts about India losing out on the right to hold the event on account of a further delay in their ‘promised’ elections to the national body, were cleared by the international body (FIH).
In a communiqué to Hockey India (HI) the FIH lamented a further delay in the much-awaited elections.
The FIH said the elections have been pushed back thrice but assured it would have no bearing on India’s chance both as host and as participant in the mega-event.
“The FIH regrets that there is another delay in the election process for Hockey India. The Hero Honda FIH World Cup will take place in New Delhi, India from 28 February-13 March 2010 with the twelve participants as qualified,” the FIH said.
While granting the World Cup, the FIH had made it clear that a democratically elected Hockey India with both the men’s and women’s wing under one roof must be in place before the mega-event or else it would be shifted out of the country.
However, the FIH later softened its stand and said that the world cup would be held in India but the hosts would be restricted from participating in it if an elected federation was not put in place on time.
The latest election date of February 7 was postponed after the Rajasthan High Court had put a stay order on its entire electoral college after the various factions in the state associations objected to the way the game is being run in the country.
The election of HI was first scheduled for November 18 last year but was later pushed back to January 29 after the sports ministry had asked it to be deferred as some state units raised doubts over the process of affiliation.
But the polls have to be deferred again from its January 29 schedule after HI failed to give a 21-day mandatory notice to all the stakeholders of the election process.
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