Hanif Khan Urges Relocation of Asia Cup Hockey Tournament

LAHORE: Hanif Khan, the former captain of Pakistan’s hockey team and an Olympic gold medalist, has advocated for moving the forthcoming Asia Cup Hockey tournament away from India. He mentioned heightened security risks and strained relations between the two nations as reasons for his stance.

Khan voiced significant apprehension regarding the prevailing conditions in India, especially after recent military tensions. He questioned the safety of Pakistani athletes traveling to India.

“The situation in India is currently unstable, marked by widespread apprehension. Given these circumstances, it is inadvisable for the Pakistan hockey team to journey to India,” Hanif stated.

He also raised concerns regarding the reliability of security provisions. “The security environment is not reassuring. Can India truly be trusted? What assurances do we have regarding the well-being of our team members?” he inquired.

Khan suggested that an alternative, safer venue, such as the UAE or Malaysia, should host the tournament.

“The Asia Cup Hockey tournament could be successfully conducted in the UAE or Malaysia. Pakistan has consistently supported sportsmanship and has never been the source of obstacles; historically, India has been the disruptor. If we opt out, India cannot impede us,” he remarked.

The Olympic champion directly appealed to Pakistan’s highest authorities, urging a reconsideration of the team’s participation.

“We implore the Prime Minister and President of Pakistan to reconsider sending the team to India. India has been obstructive in cricket and is now replicating this behavior in hockey, employing various tactics to tarnish Pakistan’s international image. Until relations between Pakistan and India improve, Pakistani teams should refrain from traveling to India,” he concluded.

Concurrently, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, commented that Pakistan’s participation hinges on a comprehensive assessment of India’s security measures.

Mashhood asserted, “We will meticulously examine the security protocols in place for the Asia Cup in India.”

“If the security measures are deemed insufficient, we will not expose the Pakistan team to any potential hazards,” he emphasized.

These statements follow reports in Indian media suggesting that the Indian government is likely to approve Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7.

An official from the Indian sports ministry noted, “We do not object to any team participating in multi-national events in India. Preventing Pakistan from participating would be viewed as a breach of the Olympic Charter. However, bilateral relations are distinct, and no concessions will be made in that area.”

“International sportsmanship requires participation in multi-national competitions. For example, Russia and Ukraine continue to compete in events despite being at war. The same rationale applies here,” the official elaborated.

Following the Asia Cup, India is also set to host the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup from November 28 to December 10, with matches planned in Chennai and Madurai.