Hockey World Cup | India yet to issue visa to Pakistan Hockey team
The Indian Government is still considering to issue the visa to the Pakistani team and support staff to participate in the upcoming Hockey World Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar, India. The Pakistani hockey team last played in India in Dec 2014 and were accused of making obscene gestures to the crowd.
Political tensions between India and Pakistan have been a long-time problem for the world of sports in the two countries. The Hockey World Cup is all set to begin from November 28th in a refurbished Kalinga Stadium. But, the Pakistani participants are yet to receive their Visa as the Indian government is still deliberating on the issue.
Looking at the recent past the relations between the two teams have not been very warm. In the year 2016, the Pakistani Junior team did not take part in the Junior Hockey World Cup and had claimed that India had failed to grant visas to them. But later it came to light that Pakistan team had applied for visas well after the deadline.
International Hockey Federation on its part has requested the Indian Government to allow the Pakistani team to participate in the tournament. Hockey World Cup, being the biggest event in the sport, it is more likely that the Pakistani team and support staff will be issued their visa at an appropriate time.
In the year 2014 when the Pakistani side had defeated India in the Champions Trophy finals, they were accused of making obscene gestures to the crowd. Recently Hassan Sardar - the Pakistan coach - has warned their players that indiscipline will not be tolerated in the upcoming World Cup.
On a different note, this Hockey World Cup will have sixteen teams who qualified through various tournaments and qualifiers. The hosts India ranked fifth currently qualified by virtue of them being the hosts. The tournament will begin on 28th November with the match between Belgium and Canada.
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