Champions Hockey trophy in jeopardy, Australia opts out

Lahore, July 20 (UNI) The prestigious Champions Hockey trophy slated to be held here from December 1 to 9 is in jeopardy as Australia has pulled out of it due to security reasons.

Hockey Australia has informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH) its inability to accept the invitation to participate in the six-nation elite tournament, according to sources here.

Spain is likely to follow Australia and will pull out of the tournament, the sources said, adding that these two withdrawls will have a cascading effect and other teams may also join the bandwagon.

This is the second time in three years that Australian Hockey team has pulled out of FIH showcase events. The Olympic champions had opted out of the the 2004 Champions Trophy held here also because of security reasons.

The present security situation in Pakistan where forces stormed into a mosque in Islamabad, followed by bomb blasts and attacks on security forces, are being termed as the main reasons for the Australian hockey team's withdrawal from the prestigious event.

The Olympic Champions' decision is a big blow for Pakistan Hockey Federation, coming at a time when the Cricket Australia's security delegation is in the country to evaluate facilities and security.

The delegation was greeted by a bomb blast in Islamabad just before a meeting organised for suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan.

Already the Australian Government has advised its citizens to reconsider their travel plans to Pakistan.

However, sources said PHF was hopeful that Spain will take part because Pakistan did not pull out of the Olympic Qualifying event held in Madrid in 2004 though bomb blasts had taken place there during that period.

At that time the FIH and all teams had vowed to carry on with the event with the view to put up a brave front against terrorism.

Interestingly, PHF Secretary Khalid Mahmood had recently told the Voice of America that ''teams can pick and choose to participate or skip any event for the reasons suiting to them.'' He had given this statement when he was asked why Pakistan refused to participate in the Asia Cup to be held in India in September.

Khalid Mahmood's statement may leave PHF with no line of defence to press foreign teams to participate in the Champions Trophy in case of their refusal.

UNI