LAHORE The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) informed the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) that it is unable to hold the inaugural edition of the Asian Champions  Trophy in September this year, due to the pressing assignments of the national senior team in future and the security situation in the country as well.

PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said that he had suggested the AHF to allocate new dates for the event after the World Cup next year.

Asif Bajwa, who recently returned home as manager of the Pakistan team from
England, said the federation was negotiating with various European and Asian countries to prepare the team for this year's qualifying round of the World Cup.

The PHF had itseldf suggested to AHF that it host the Champions Trophy. Though the AHF had allowed the event, it has given no surety about the participation of any team, since it was the responsibility of the PHF. As no team has confirmed the participation so far, the PHF considered it better to ask the AHF to postpone it for the next year, with the hope the security situation in the country would have been improved.

About the tour of England, he said Pakistan team played well and new combinations were tested. However, he said all the senior players, who were not the part of the England tour, would be invited for the qualifiers as the best winning combination from youth and seniors would be prepared for the mega event.