LAHORE The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will take a decision on sending the national team to India on Thursday.

Pakistan is due to participate in a four-nation tournament in February, but the prospects of its participation came under doubt after the escalation of tension between the two neighbours after the Mumbai attacks.

Meanwhile, no date has been set for chief coach Ayaz Mahmood to join the national squad to prepare them for upcoming tours.

PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa told reporters on Wednesday that a meeting with the federal sports minister will be held to decide the fate of the upcoming tour.

'The PHF president and I are going to Islamabad to meet federal sports minister on Thursday to take a final decision on sending the team to India,' Bajwa said after a board meeting.

India has invited Pakistan to play in a four-nation tournament but the invitation was extended much before the Mumbai attacks. In the aftermath of the attacks on, India has already refused to send its cricket team to Pakistan, which was due to arrive on January 4.

'The PHF can send its team to India to help restart friendship between the two countries, but at the end we will follow government instructions,' Bajwa said.

Asked if Pakistan coach Ayaz Mahmood will be available for the tour, the secretary said Mahmood will be with the team from January.

If Pakistan's participation is confirmed, the team will leave for India on January 30.

Ayaz was appointed as the new coach by PHF President Qasim Zia last month, and is currently on assignment with the PIA in Russia.

'Although the PIA has selected an official to replace Ayaz in Russia, the process to send him there will take a while but hopefully the coach will be here sometime in January,' he said.

When asked why PHF coaches did not attend the ongoing PHF coaching course in Lahore, Bajwa said a fine has been imposed on these coaches.

Bajwa said the national team will participate in the Asia Cup in March before heading off to Malaysia for the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament in April. In addition to that, the Malaysian team will be visiting Pakistan next year.

Bajwa said the PHF hopes to field a well-balanced side in the 2012 Olympics.

'I will not like to make tall claims for building up a winning combination overnight but we are doing our best efforts to meet the challenges,' he said.