KARACHI: Nine Pakistani hockey players received their Indian visas on Friday that will allow them to feature in the  Hockey India League which begins in New Delhi from Monday, 14th January.

While the visas were initially denied to the players according to some reports in the media, the Indian Embassy clarified that it never deprived the players of Indian visas for the championship and said that it received the passports very late from the courier service which delayed the issuance of visas to the players.

The Pakistani players who will be leaving for India on Saturday include Mohammad Irfan, Imran Butt, Rizwan Junior, Rashid Mehmood, Fareed Ahmed, Mohammad Tauseeq, Shafqat Rasool, Rashid Shah and Rizwan Senior.

Five city-based franchised teams namely Delhi Waveriders, Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Uttar-Pradesh Wizards, Mumbai Magicians and Ranchi Rhinos will be featuring in the event which will see top foreign players in action.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has sanctioned the staging of league.—PPI