SYDNEY, Oct 12: Hockey Australia (HA) defended its decision to withdraw the Olympic champions out of the Champions Trophy tournament in Pakistan in December, saying security concerns had left it no choice.

HA's decision was strongly criticised by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) late Monday. Three people were killed in a suicide bombing at a Lahore mosque on Sunday, the latest in a wave of attacks in Punjab province, which has left 74 people dead this month.

The HA board issued a statement on Tuesday saying Australian Government travel advice had left it with no option but to pull out of the elite six-nation tournament, scheduled for Dec 4-12 in Lahore.

"The advice for all Australians to defer travel to Pakistan leaves us with no choice but to withdraw," the statement said. "Australia has a record of participating in every Champions Trophy tournament since inception, of which we are very proud.

"This decision has not been taken lightly, but was made with absolute due regard to our responsibilities to Australian team members and the international hockey community."

Pakistan was originally to host the event in 2001 but security fears in the wake of the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States forced the international body to relocate the tournament to Holland. Pakistan was later awarded the 2004 edition.

However, the Australians' withdrawal was good news for India, who will replace the Olympic champions despite finishing seventh in Athens in August, a placing which had ruled them out of the Champions Trophy. -AFP