LAHORE, Nov 17: The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) in a letter to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has expressed its regret that their U-21 team could not tour Pakistan for reasons beyond their control and urged to continue bilateral hockey ties.This was stated by PHF secretary Asif Bajwa on Monday.

“We have officially received a letter from the ad hoc committee of IHF in which it expressed its regrets regarding cancellation of its junior team’s tour to Pakistan,” Bajwa said.

The Indian team was to tour Pakistan from Nov 10 to play five-Test series against Pakistan juniors at various centres but cancelled their programme at the eleventh hour, when PHF officials were waiting for them at the Wagah Border, citing clearance refusal from the Indian authorities.

In the letter, convener of the IHF ad hoc committee, Aslam Khan wrote, “However, we would like to express, once again, our fullest cooperation in having bilateral ties between the two countries in future.

“We will be seeing you [PHF officials] at the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) Congress in Los Angles later this month to find ways to explore possibilities for having regular hockey ties.”

When contacted, Bajwa welcomed the gesture of the IHF and said it would be good for the game.

He disclosed that the PHF would be taking up the matter of cancellation of the Indian hockey team’s tour to Pakistan at the Congress meeting to find a solution of the problem.—APP