Conflict casualties: Pakistani hockey players return from India

The Pakistani players say they returned due to protests and threats from the Shiv Sena party.

The Pakistani hockey players who had traveled to India fortnight ago to participate in the Indian Hockey League, returned to their homeland on Wednesday following threats from the Shiv Sena political party, Express News reported.

The players said that despite excellent security arrangements, they made the decision to return because of the protests from Shiv Sena.

They further stated that they wished to return to India to play hockey in the future, if the situation allows it.

Around 100 workers of the hard-line Shiv Sena party protested on Sunday at a stadium where the Mumbai Magicians team, who have four Pakistani national team players in their squad – Muhammad Tousiq, Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Imran Butt – were practicing.

The nine players had traveled to India last week to take part in a new franchise-based Indian hockey league.