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NEW DELHI: Nine Pakistani players were on Tuesday withdrawn from a new field hockey league in India and asked to return home in the wake of protests following border tension between the arch-rivals.
None of the Pakistanis featured in the opening match of the Hockey India League (HIL) in New Delhi on Monday and officials said they will not take part in the entire four-week event.
“Due to extraordinary circumstances, it has been decided to send the nine Pakistan players home,” Hockey India chief and the league's main organiser Narinder Batra told reporters in New Delhi.
“The interests of the players will be protected and they will be paid the full fees due to them. It was a mutual decision between us and the Pakistan Hockey Federation.”
The 34-match HIL, sanctioned by the sport's world governing body, features top stars from around the world playing for five city-based franchises till February 10.
The cities in the fray are New Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ranchi and Jalandhar.
Four Pakistanis, Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tousiq and Imran Butt, were hired by Mumbai. The others were Mohammed Rizwan senior and Mohammed Rizwan junior (Delhi), Kashif Shah (Jalandhar), and Muhammed Irfan and Shafqat Rasool (Ranchi).
Trouble began on Sunday in Mumbai when the city's franchise was forced to cancel its team's practice session after protests from the right-wing nationalist Shiv Sena party.
The entire squad, coached by Australian Ric Charlesworth, shifted base to New Delhi as league organisers speculated whether Mumbai could host the six matches allotted to it, the first one scheduled for January 20.
“I have no idea what will happen, but it will not be easy to play the matches in Mumbai if the Pakistanis are there,” Mumbai Hockey Association official Ram Singh told AFP earlier on Tuesday.
Tensions between India and Pakistan were heightened last week by a series of cross-border exchanges in disputed Kashmir in which four soldiers were killed.
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On DawnNews
Comments (88) Closed
Jan 15, 2013 03:29pm
Greetings to all AMAN KI ASHA supporters !!!!
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Jan 16, 2013 09:25am
We also want the same in India that we should shun all the contacts with Pakistan. We are not going to suffer in anyway, instead we can remain in peace.
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Jan 15, 2013 03:24pm
India did right by giving them contract money, it is rightly deserved money
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Jan 16, 2013 09:14am
Yes of course, It is big example of Democracy, because just imagine, family of two solders who were killed brutally by ur army. what they will feel. How people of India will take this. This is why Hockey India send them back to Pakistan. But how U people u know what the democracy is all about? Just enjoy ur so call Army controlled Democracy....................
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Jan 15, 2013 01:01pm
they should have left once they were taken out of the practice session ... it would be good for hockey or any other game as well as Pakistan.
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Jan 15, 2013 02:47pm
Which pride are you talking about?
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Jan 15, 2013 02:35pm
they are withdrawn because they will be paid full fees
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Jan 15, 2013 02:40pm
Either way it speaks volumes about what you guys are really about! There's nothing more 'tolerant' and mature than this.....Good thing you guys have been banned by the IOC!
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Jan 16, 2013 02:13pm
Every time the elections approach in Pakistan, they create provocations at the border to gain votes! Only the common people suffer. The players were sent back because of safety reasons and were all paid fully without even playing one game. If anything happened to one of these players, then it would turn into an riot killing more innocent people! THIS IS A GOOD DECISION TO SENT THEM BACK SAFELY.
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Jan 15, 2013 02:13pm
beggars never return money they don't have the pride
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Jan 15, 2013 02:01pm
well, although they won't play but they will be given the whole amount of one year contract....but do you want to play just for money?
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Jan 16, 2013 09:06am
As ur wish, We have not now decided to behave U the way, U want.........................
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Jan 15, 2013 02:12pm
beggars never return money they dont have the pride
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Jan 15, 2013 01:13pm
I could not agree more with your statement. Money can be made, however, it take decades to develop Pride. We as a nation must standup against all ills and hatred being created internally and externally, if we intend to survive.
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Jan 15, 2013 12:29pm
Whose shake are you talking about ?
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Jan 15, 2013 01:42pm
It is a good move. Even if something small happens it will become a major issue. I am glad that they are being given their contract money as it is not players fault.
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Jan 15, 2013 12:46pm
Ohh man...keep Sports away from Politics...
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Jan 15, 2013 12:46pm
Withdrawn? hmmmm....or kicked out!
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Jan 15, 2013 12:51pm
your players are being paid whether they play or not play!! it is nothing personal against the sport or player but a protest to keep our govt officials awake of people sentiments. In cross border firing soldiers dies but beheading and taking head along is inhuman and every indian is heating up inside due to it... rest we will see what happens in coming weeks.... - an Indian
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Jan 15, 2013 12:24pm
have some pride for God shake and return them their money
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Jan 15, 2013 12:41pm
Knowing them...they wont...IPL and now this Paise paisa..and its sake not God's shake..:))
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Jan 15, 2013 12:40pm
There is no need to get emotional. These are contractual issues. It was not the players' fault that the organisers felt concerned about their safety. It just business as usual.
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Jan 15, 2013 03:59pm
SHAMEFUL to me as an Indian.I am tired of these extremists taking control of administration and threatening our guests. It is not our level..where our ideals go in time of crisis? If our character is so weak as to break down in the face of problem then what do you boast of? I have lived with Pakistanis in my life and they are most friendly people.One Pak uncle used to cook fantastic dishes for me when I lived abroad.Are we so low.See the Europeans..the know how to keep things separate.Even after WW2 everybody live together.We have failed.
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Jan 15, 2013 04:13pm
Sonu, you have to understand that Pakistani army would never do duch a thing.It is been done by Talibans to make the two countries go to war and They are somewhat successful. We strongly condemn such unhuman practices but you can expect anything from Talibans. Unfortunately Indians again fell vitim to Talibans conspiracy as in case of Mumbai incident.
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Jan 15, 2013 04:31pm
Both nations are still way too immature and emotional. In the present time, media must plays a vital role in the development of a nation. However, it is not playing a constructive role and relaying one sided news. Most medias playing to the tune of emotional and immature minds.
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Jan 15, 2013 04:42pm
"The interests of the players will be protected and they will be paid the full fees due to them"
what do you understand by this??
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Jan 15, 2013 04:56pm
They are unfit for Olympics as any way they would be holding last position in Hockey ;).
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Jan 15, 2013 05:00pm
I think safety of the players is paramount and the decision was right. It has been done in consultation with Pakistan hockey.
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Jan 15, 2013 05:05pm
its so sad. Anytime there is talk about friendship between India and Pakistan some Catastrophe takes place. WHY CAN'T WE ALL GET ALONG?
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Jan 16, 2013 06:29pm
to all my pakistani frnds and indian frnds.. i had been reading all days the comments coming thru email but couldn't respond... though i wanted to..
i have gone through so many blogs , tweets and opinions of many pak journlists and activists.. i feel that i want to make conversation with pak people.... if somebody is using twitter.. pls lets talk @sahil_violin is my twitter handle.. pls tweet me.. thnx.
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Jan 15, 2013 05:25pm
Sincere apologies from Indian,Gautam was carried away by emotions. Aman ki Asha :)
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Jan 15, 2013 05:32pm
World's largest democracy? Yeah, right.
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Jan 15, 2013 05:39pm
IHL should be punished in court for fraternising with the enemy, same fate should befall BCCI, who should be thrown in jail.
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Jan 15, 2013 05:52pm
Players are sent back not WITHDRAWN......
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Jan 15, 2013 05:59pm
sonu.......i have only one word for you............KARMA (What goes around comes around)
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Jan 15, 2013 06:01pm
The heading of this story is far from the authenticity of the news. Sending back of players is not the choice of players but its the decision of the HIL to send them back, So its absurd to use word "Withdrawn".Which is totally changhes the soul of the news. So, Please be a journalist and report the real news.
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Jan 15, 2013 06:01pm
Indian leaders need to be more mature, we whehter together or apart still have to exist together, there is no need to jump on the wagon of those who are here on east india company like expedition. Think of biggest market in the world, whole Asia, Africa, part of Europe and more, be wise dont try to help those who are here only for some time.
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Jan 16, 2013 11:00am
Muslims can never do this..
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Jan 16, 2013 11:01am
Agree with kamal.. but who allows those talibans to reach border and take such action..
bottom line Pakistan rather than reverting strongly to Indian statements.. must act upon its own elements to keep a better control on its nation and pride...
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Jan 15, 2013 06:20pm
This shows the power of extremists in the Indian society.
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Jan 16, 2013 05:37pm
Hightime people of Pakistan should realize that there is no right way to do a wrong thing. You have tried to prosper by hating India. Look where India and you stands when both started journey together.
Young generation of Pakistan needs some introspection where they want to steer their country towards.
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Jan 15, 2013 07:44pm
It is time, Pakistan should closed their borders on India for 100 years and have no People to people contact. We want to keep only military relationship with India.
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Jan 15, 2013 07:58pm
if Pakistani players had some shame they would have returned the mone ,,but shameless creatures
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Jan 16, 2013 04:49pm
No bhai....apnay apnay ghar khush raho.....no need for going to india and india needs to come here...we are done for 10000000 yrs.
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Jan 15, 2013 09:05pm
Feeling great that you kicked out 9 hockey players who have nothing to with LoC? That's logical?
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Jan 16, 2013 12:28pm
@Kamal, Please for God sake, Don't you got tired telling white lies time & time again?
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Jan 16, 2013 12:39pm
Well Said Sandeep
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Jan 16, 2013 12:41pm
I have lived with Indians abroad who are also very friendly people
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Jan 16, 2013 12:38pm
Its not normal voice it is extremism
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Jan 16, 2013 11:46am
rofl ! You are funny !
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Jan 15, 2013 10:49pm
There's no need to get along.
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Jan 16, 2013 12:03pm
hahha and player's will come from Taliban ;)
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Jan 16, 2013 12:01pm
and if India had any "shame", then they would have selected some "INDIAN" player to start with...and they woudl have taken this decesion a week ago if the "security" is the only thing they were concerened about
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Jan 15, 2013 11:21pm
I agree. I do not see any prospect of peace between India and Pakistan for at least 1000 years.
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Jan 16, 2013 11:56am
;-) , tell this to your sports organizations and players ! I am sure you have the skills to make them understand and calm down their eagerness to play in the Indian Leagues.
By the way, I heard that even Bangladesh refused to send cricket team to Pakistan !! No getting along their as well ?
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Jan 16, 2013 11:54am
Yes, right ! We are proud to be !!
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Jan 16, 2013 11:51am
by the way, how many people's voice count? 100-200 or 1000!!
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Jan 16, 2013 12:11am
We need to start our own hockey league
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Jan 16, 2013 12:11am
No they are not mature. Pak army and their friendly terrorist are by beheading a soldier. Kill the soldier, but there is no need to behead. Do you see any barbaric sense in it or is it okay? I'm scared what kind of people live on the other side...humans??
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Jan 16, 2013 04:42pm
our people don't have any interest in coming to your country.Its only your country's actress,singers etc who come to our country.
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Jan 16, 2013 12:20pm
I have been trying to restrain myself from commenting here, for all I sense is blatant outrage and anger and nothing more than that. We people are the mob, instead of you folks sitting in front of your computers and making provocative comments, how about we get out there be it in India or Pakistan and bring about change, by doing what is necessary (Justice to the righteous). Emotions of people are to be valued at all times and the outbreak has manifested in sending the Pakistan players back with their dues paid in full (for which I respect both bodies of India and Pakistan). As for the violence at the LOC, all politicians need to be blamed for the stir and lack of policies to confine CONSPIRACY FORCES.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:43am
Yes, Pakistan Hockey was informed about the decisions.
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Jan 16, 2013 01:05pm
why is there no outcry or media coverage on Indian players, commentators, artists, celebrities asked to leave Pakistan?
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Jan 16, 2013 12:48pm
Do you have any option?
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Jan 16, 2013 04:04am
Farah, india wants peace but not possible u do not understand the term
LIVE AND LET LIVE
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Jan 16, 2013 04:06am
Its animal behaviour
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Jan 16, 2013 04:07am
True. You may actually not understand it having born and lived in half democracy
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Jan 16, 2013 01:36pm
You guys not closing the border is THE problem. There are no other issues. LOL ..
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Jan 16, 2013 04:20am
What I fail too understand is why we are always pressuring India to let our cricketers play in IPL, tour Pakistan, let us tour India? when we know we are not welcomed there then we should just look for other options. If they don't want us there fine, forget it.
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Jan 16, 2013 01:20pm
Gr8 idea. Does 'have no People to people contact' mean no infiltration as well ?
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Jan 16, 2013 10:24pm
That is a cop-out of the lowest levels. There is mature, sensible commentary of a tremendous variety in the Indian media. Those whose idea of Indian media is limited to the socialite pages of tabloids like the Times of India have no authority or right to malign the country's media in this manner. The perception of a large number of Indians visiting Dawn's website is because 1. a lot more Indians are online than Pakistanis and 2. Dawn is the only paper of any quality or relevance in Pakistan, all other news portals are full of jingoistic nonsense and conspiracy theories.
Our friend Sandeep has obviously never read The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times, the publications of the India Today group, Outlook, Tehelka and countless others in the English press. Also, unlike the widely circulated but mired in poor journalism Urdu press in Pakistan, regional language newspapers in India are of extremely high quality, like the Malayala Manorama, Dainik Jagran, Ananda Bazaar Patrika, etc. etc.
It would be useful to depend on facts before over-compensating on Dawn's commentspace in an attempt to appear friendly.
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Jan 16, 2013 04:41am
Please read carefully,
"Nine Pakistani players were on Tuesday withdrawn from a new field hockey league in India and asked to return home"
"were withdrawn" and " asked to return home" are the key words.
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Jan 16, 2013 04:44am
very true ...this is the only solution .....people to people contact hasn't yielded ne possitive results in last 65 years ....both INDIA & PAK will keep on fighting like this ..
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Jan 16, 2013 04:50am
Yes, in democracy people's voice count.
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Jan 16, 2013 04:57am
Even we want the same
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Jan 16, 2013 05:03am
Tahir bhai, It was in your country Srilankan Cricket team was attacked with Automatic guns and RPG's. Josh me hosh mat gawao.
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Jan 16, 2013 05:30am
good....
that is what we too want...
we do not stand to gain anything by having any kind of ties with Pakistan.
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Jan 16, 2013 06:00am
We Welcome IT Go Ahead and Convince your Govt.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:43pm
well said mate
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Jan 16, 2013 06:24am
Agree boss. Couldn't have put it better. Both countries seem to have reached a point where the media flares up the general mob feeling to irrational heights, and the govt. comes under pressure to respond in same line.
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Jan 16, 2013 06:32am
Wish there were more Dawn-like media houses in both countries, things would've been better.
The current crop of Indian media(times of India group especially), are only aiming for sensationalism - playing with mass emotions by writing provocative articles. In the process they garner increased viewership from the masses, which drives up their advertising profits. But alas, blinded by all the "patriotic" emotions, we the people do not see this, and just allow ourselves to be swayed by lopsided opinions of our media.
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Jan 16, 2013 07:03am
Of course the decision made by India is democratic. Majority of Indians are angered by what has happened at LOC and wants everyone in administration to take a tough stance.
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Jan 16, 2013 02:10pm
India still has to provide proof that this barbaric act was done by Pakistan Army. A regular sanctioned military of a country does not commit acts like this...unless its the US Army.
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Jan 16, 2013 07:48pm
i think its the right decision bcoz at present there r lots of anti-pak sentiments in india and pak player would have been a serious target,for their safety pak players has been sent back by hockey India League management
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Jan 16, 2013 07:43pm
offcourse a democracy thats y our voices has been heard and pak players has been debarred from playing in our league,our voices counts
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Jan 16, 2013 02:35pm
India sensitivity is on Pathetic level, in fact its like this forever.
We should refrain at any cost to send delegates or entertainment/sports personal to India.
Time is not right and never will be.
Also any one from India is welcome to Pakistan anytime.
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Jan 16, 2013 07:37pm
Yes, there are extremist elements in Pakistan. Everyone should have enough courage to accept the facts. If there are extremist elements in India, as numerous examples can be quoted, then accept it.
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Jan 16, 2013 08:26am
Finally Good decision.....
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