NEW DELHI, July 27: India's field hockey chiefs on Friday offered to host the elite Champions Trophy in December if the tournament was taken away from Pakistan due to security concerns.The International Hockey Federation (FIH) allotted the annual event featuring the six top hockey-playing nations to the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore from Dec 1 to 9.

But the tournament was thrown in doubt last week when Olympic champions Australia pulled out, citing security fears, following a wave of suicide bombings and upsurge of violence by Islamic militants in Pakistan.

Media reports said the FIH had informed Pakistan that England, who were next in line to replace Australia, had also expressed their reluctance to make the trip to Lahore.

Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) secretary K. Jothikumaran said he had written to the FIH that India was willing to step in if Pakistan was unable to host the tournament.

“We are ready to host the Champions Trophy this year,” Jothikumaran said. “It is up to the FIH to decide, but we will take it up if the tournament is offered to us.”

India, which last held the tournament in 2005 in the southern city of Chennai, will decide the host city after hearing from the FIH.

The top six teams featuring in Lahore were Australia, Germany, South Korea, Spain, Pakistan and the Netherlands.

England, Argentina, India and New Zealand are next in line according to the rankings, but India will have to be accommodated if they host the tournament. —AFP