Hockey: Islamabad removed as hosts

Asian hockey body awards rights to Thailand for Indoor Asia Cup۔

KARACHI: The Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) has stripped Islamabad as the host for next month’s Indoor Asia Cup, rejecting the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) request to delay the event for a month. 

The event is scheduled for November 18 to 21 but the PHF wanted to push the tournament to finalise arrangements.

However, according to a PHF official, the Asian body declined the request and gave the hosting rights to Thailand.

The change in venue has come as a setback to the PHF’s bid to revive international action as several Asian countries were expected to participate.

Meanwhile, another PHF official said that they decided to skip the tournament and will not send a team to Thailand.   “It’s being done to save expenses,” said the official.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2012.