Narinder Batra confirms that India will invite Pakistan for upcoming World Cup
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International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Narinder Batra has clarified that India will invite Pakistan to participate in the 2018 World Cup in Bhubaneshwar in December. Earlier, it was speculated that Pakistan wouldn’t be allowed due to the tensed political relations between the two countries.
After failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup that was held in the Netherlands, Pakistan made it to the 2018 edition as they finished seventh in the Hockey World League (HWL) semifinals in London. However, their participation in the multi-nation tournament was in doubt due to the brewing hostile political situation between two neighbouring countries, which has recently been clarified by Batra.
“Pakistan will be invited because it’s an FIH-sanctioned event. We have taken the necessary permissions from the external affairs ministry. There are certain rules and procedures in which participating nations have to apply for visas 60 days prior to the start of the tournament. There are other procedures which Pakistan will have to follow,” Batra said, reported PTI.
After the team failed to participate in 2016’s Junior Hockey World Cup in Lucknow due to visa issues, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has requested the Indian High Commission in Islamabad this time, to grant them the visas on time to avoid any problems.
The last time a full Pakistan team came to India to participate in a world event was back in 2016 when Pakistan Men’s and Women's Cricket teams participated in the 2016 World T20. Last year, during the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup, Pakistan visited India as the hosts beat them in the final in Bengaluru to win the title.
