LAHORE: The government on Thursday issued the no objection certificate to Pakistan’s national hockey team for participating in the Asian Champions Trophy being held in the Indian city of Chennai from Aug 3-12.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had applied for the NOC during May and the Interior Ministry had issued the NOC on July 10, but it had not reached the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coor­dination till Wednesday, as claimed by Federal Minister for IPC Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari.

However on Thursday, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a press release declaring the NOC had been received from the Interior Ministry after getting clearance from the quarters concerned.

According to PHF secretary Haider Hussain, the team would cross the Wagah Border, Lahore on Aug 1 to reach Amritsar, from where they would proceed to Chennai on a local flight.

Interestingly, Haider said the PHF had not received the NOC yet, adding that he received the latest information in this regard only through media.

Meanwhile, the PHF cleared Pakistan junior team’s dues relating to the Asia Cup held in Salalah, Oman last May.

The team, which won silver medal at the Junior Asia Cup after losing a 2-1 to India in the final, had not received their allowances amounting to around Rs10 million.

The PSB, it is learnt, issued a special grant to the PHF to clear the dues of the junior side that performed impressively in the Asia Cup.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2023