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Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has rejected claims from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that it had not submitted travel documents for its players by the official deadline, which FIH said resulted in its exclusion from the Junior World Cup.
India did not issue Pakistan's junior hockey players the visas that they needed to be able to participate in the tournament, a press release issued by the PHF said.
"This version of the FIH is completely baseless as the PHF had submitted visa application forms along with relevant documents pertaining to visa formalities well in time on Oct 24. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the government of Pakistan had also been obtained on time but still India did not issue visas to the Pakistani contingent," it added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a statement on Thursday, confirming that India had not granted the hockey team's visa applications.
Speaking to DawnNews earlier, PHF Secretary Shehbaz Ahmed termed the move "pre-planned" and said "Pakistan did not delay any obligations pertaining to schedules and it is India's fault which did not issue visas to the Pakistani delegation before the given deadline."
Pakistan on Nov 19 had issued NOCs to the Pakistan's junior hockey team in order for them to take part in the Junior World Hockey Cup scheduled to be held in India from Dec 8 to 18.
The Malaysian junior men’s has replaced Pakistan as per the decision of FIH issued Monday.
"Ironically," the PHF press release added, "India is ready to provide visas to the Malaysian team, who have replaced Pakistan, in three-days' time."
Calling FIH's decision an "unjust act", the PHF said that despite having limited resources, it had spent around Rs100 million to prepare the junior squad.
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On DawnNews
Comments (59) Closed
Dec 01, 2016 05:10pm
Definitely we can see UNJUST act of other countries over issue of Pakistan. We must develop and promote local sporting activities just like USA, GB and Australia etc. Which generates a lot of sum of money and talents.
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Dec 01, 2016 05:15pm
Malaysia is a very good hockey team currently playing fast & smart hockey than Pakistan.
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Dec 01, 2016 05:15pm
nothing new,
unfair unjust actions against muslims by indians
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Dec 01, 2016 05:18pm
Pakistan should immediately file a case against the Indians in an international court of law. We should highlight all these acts of bigotry so that India is exposed to everyone.
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Dec 01, 2016 05:21pm
@ZAMIR
Dear Zamir .... our own player Yousuf Affan is scoring match winning scores vs international teams for India
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Dec 01, 2016 05:24pm
This proves how cheap mentality is of Modi government.
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Dec 01, 2016 05:24pm
No lazy arguments please! Do not believe PHF; yet another corrupt organisation, where officials go for grand trips, have high expense accounts etc while facilities and pay not adequately provided to existing and budding players. India cannot dare not to issue visas for an international tournament. PHF needs to provide evidence that the visa applications were accurate, complete, and on time!
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Dec 01, 2016 05:25pm
Why complain about it now...what the Pakistani Embassy in India was doing... why the matter was not brought to the notice once you smelt something fishy in inordinate time taken by India ?
Nip it in the bud ...don't complain about it when you have jeopardised your own interest!!
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Dec 01, 2016 05:38pm
After getting NOC, PHF took six days for visa documentation & it expect India to issue Visa within three days !
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Dec 01, 2016 05:43pm
India has a Govt with zero shame
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Dec 01, 2016 05:46pm
"India did not grant visas to Pakistan's junior hockey team for world cup: PHF" Disgraceful act by India to defeat sports.
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Dec 01, 2016 05:48pm
World cup games shouldn't be held in India.
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Dec 01, 2016 05:58pm
Is it possible for a country organising a international tournament to deny visa to a participating team.Tournament would be removed from that country.
To create problems Pakistan hockey federation would have delayed sending request
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Dec 01, 2016 05:58pm
@Chelsea I totally agree with Chelsea. With part experience one should know how long it takes to process visas. So that time elapsed then the matter should have been taken up with FIH.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:06pm
En acknowledgment of defeat by india...
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Dec 01, 2016 06:11pm
Pakistan should be bycot tournamnt before going india
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Dec 01, 2016 06:12pm
Pakistan should be bycot tournamnt before going india
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Dec 01, 2016 06:12pm
Pakistan must have attached NOC in October itself with other documents. After a lot of bad happenings on both countries, more care must have been taken to handle these matters. And regarding visa for Malaysia citizens, that is a different matter. India provide them visa on arrival basis.
But India has great respect to Pakistani Hockey. An missed opportunity to enjoy good hockey matches.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:24pm
Other 'sporting' countries along with India's support would love to cause more than political instability in Pakistan.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:24pm
The question one must ask is, had Malaysian team's process started after Pakistan's request had been declined by IHF. If so, then is there a clause where IHF can bring a new team in a short period and deny the other team a chance at the tournament. Weren't the West Indies team the last to join the T20 tournament even after several deadlines had passed. I think our Indian friends should voice this concern as well.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:30pm
There are lot of negative comments blaming "India" for conspiring against Pak team.
The general public in India would welcome Pakistani youngsters; and I am sure Indian team will receive a warm welcome in Pakistan too.. Let's not malign each other's intent.
This failure could have happened due to bureaucratic delays, carelessness or stubbornness in ANY of the organisations involved, both sides of the border. Let's demand accountability from them and not make it an India vs. Pak issue.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:31pm
For the sake of keeping good relations India could have processed the visas even if according to their claim the applications were late. Good neighborly relations are in the interest of both the people and sports. In this scenario both lose.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:56pm
Impotent government of Pakistan, could not protect Pakistan’s legitimate rights at any level.
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Dec 01, 2016 06:59pm
@ZAMIR, True, Indian hate and jealously against Pakistani is visible. Why Middle Eastern countries not noticing it and expel out Indians from ME?
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Dec 01, 2016 07:08pm
No such statement is made by Indian officials in India and I am sure it may be due to procedural and administrative delay in applying visa.
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Dec 01, 2016 07:19pm
India is stooping to unbelievable low by refusing visas for Junior World Hockey Cup. International Hockey Federation must enforce financial penalty on India for creating such problem in international hockey.
Cricket suffered the same fate when PM Modi's party workers threatened to tear up pitches. Musician and singers were treated disgracefully. India can never call itself a great nation with such hateful mindset.
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Dec 01, 2016 07:26pm
What else you can expect when FIH president is Indian and if Pakistani players not granted visas than FIH should have moved the tournament to another country. If host country can't give visas or provide security to any qualifying country than they can't host the tournament. This is straight forward law suit against FIH and India. Pakistan government should take this matter seriously and teach the lesson to these culprits.
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Dec 01, 2016 07:32pm
Pakistan must make an effort to oppose any sporting event in India as it has failed to provide neutral and conducive Environment for sporting activities.
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Dec 01, 2016 07:34pm
PHF said that despite having limited resources, it had spent around Rs100 million to prepare the junior squad! That is shocking. What dates did they submit the visa application and what was the response. Please let that be know and taken up with International Hockey Federation
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Dec 01, 2016 07:34pm
Its a shame and embaressment for Pakistanis why some Pakistani actors, singers, sportsmen are dying to go to India when they dont even give you visa and dont want you to come over? Please show some pride and next time, be the first one to say, no we are not going to India while they are killing our people on LOC and Kashmir, why are they the ones to say it but not Pakistani people, please please show some national pride. Its disgraceful.
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Dec 01, 2016 07:38pm
@Nadeem, USA There is an answer in your own question
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Dec 01, 2016 07:36pm
We should not have even applied for visas from the enemy nation.
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Dec 01, 2016 08:00pm
@Shoaib, Srinagar Its irrelevant & out of context
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Dec 01, 2016 08:11pm
@M.Saeed Fully agree with you.
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Dec 01, 2016 08:16pm
Global tournaments should only be held in a country where Visas can be given to all participating teams, India should not be given such tournaments as they deliberately refuse Pak participation, this has already happened in other sports such as Kabaddi, Snooker and Squash.
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Dec 01, 2016 08:31pm
@SadFaces
India provides visa on arrival to many countries around world on Malaysia may be one of them.
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Dec 01, 2016 08:32pm
If you submit proper documents than only the visa applications are accepted.... please provide proper documents of all players....
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Dec 01, 2016 08:36pm
Pakistan hockey is at its lowest level .Bangladesh & Malaysia are fiercest competitors & we must play bilateral series with these nations if we want to play better in future world cups.
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Dec 01, 2016 08:52pm
It's a habit of pakistani officials to blame their own incompetency on everyone else. That way they can keep on with their usual business
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Dec 01, 2016 09:33pm
India is sanctioning Pakistan and there is no reason for India to lie about it. That is simply cowardly.
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Dec 01, 2016 09:37pm
Such an insecure mentality. Something went very wrong in india
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Dec 01, 2016 09:49pm
@Shoaib, Srinagar .... Some of the best field hockey players in the world are (the Huron and Mohawk) native Americans. They invented the game of Lacrosse hundreds of years ago. Native American high school players in the Northeast are recruited by American universities and colleges that play the sport on full scholarships.
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Dec 01, 2016 10:05pm
PHF had submitted visa application forms along with relevant documents pertaining to visa formalities on Oct 24. Pakistan on Nov 19 had issued NOCs to the Pakistan's junior hockey team. When was the visa rejected and what reasons were furnished?
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Dec 01, 2016 10:07pm
@Dawn ... Take care. People hatching conspiracy theories are laughed at behind their backs.
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Dec 01, 2016 10:09pm
Why Pakistani official not asked for guaranteed Indian visa issuance from FIH.or just move the event to another country in case if India do not allows Pakistan hockey team to play in India. now we should arise this issue in all forums of FIH
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Dec 01, 2016 10:39pm
@ZAMIR lol!! Malaysia also a Muslim country.
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Dec 01, 2016 10:40pm
@Kamal PASHA please don't be judgemental without knowing the facts.
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Dec 01, 2016 10:43pm
For all the IF's and BUT's by the Indians commenting here: not long ago, Indians announced that Pakistani team will not be allowed in Kabaddi world cup. That time it was explicit. Check the news in Times of India just by googling or using the following link:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Pakistan-barred-from-Kabaddi-World-Cup-in-India/articleshow/54692732.cms
In this hockey world cup it is implicit (hidden). The intent is exactly the same.
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Dec 01, 2016 11:21pm
Cheap indian trick but its not end of the world !
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Dec 01, 2016 11:36pm
India should not be allowed to hold any tournament.first kabaddi now this.the only thing is the west is on its knees when it comes to India.shameless west
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Dec 01, 2016 11:38pm
The Scared India with Scared tactics. A timid show from the worlds largest democracy.
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Dec 01, 2016 11:40pm
And it still insists on calling itself the "biggest democracy" in the world.
What a sham?
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Dec 02, 2016 12:12am
The west is as biased as India.Pakistan should stop all dealings with India.
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Dec 02, 2016 12:37am
@Alba What cowardly?
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Dec 02, 2016 04:17pm
India refuses to issue visas for our hockey team to participate in world cup whereas our Sartaj Aziz tried to be in India to attend an international event. What a mockery! Don't jolt our reputation any further. Enough is enough. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
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Dec 02, 2016 05:41pm
@ZAMIR . Umm Malaysians are Muslims are also, so your claim of being "against muslims" is not true.
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Dec 02, 2016 05:50pm
@dr. Salaria, aamir ahmad :Has "democracy" got to do with issuing visas? Even other "better" democracies have the right to refuse a visa to a foreigner. Granting a visa is not a right, such as a right to vote in a democracy. So please do not confuse the two - Democracy and issuing a visa.
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Dec 02, 2016 10:52pm
@Shoaib, Srinagar You obviously know nothing about hokey or you'd not have made that comment. At Junior level, there is no difference between India, Pakistan, Malaysia, or for that matter, SA or even European countries.
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Dec 02, 2016 11:15pm
India has been disqualified to hold International Hockey tournaments because of obstruction and consipiricy to keep Pakistan out of world Junior Hockey cup.Pakistan has to lobby this point forcefully. I am sure some just men and nations of principles would accept our position. There is no place in the world for nations feeling self-pity. Don’t forget Pakistan under Great Nur Khan started Hockey world cup, champion’s trophy, and world cricket cup .We must reclaim our rightful place.
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