The Pakistan hockey team’s preparation for this year’s Champions Trophy suffered a great set back when the Four-Nation Hockey Tournament to be held in India ahead of the event, was cancelled.
The Indian federation had planned to hold the four-nation tournament before the Hockey Champions Trophy but the event was cancelled after one of the participating teams, New Zealand, pulled out of the tournament. The New Zealand decision came after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) banned the Indian Hockey Federation when its rival federation joined hands with the federation to programme the World Hockey Series.
The FIH banned the Indian federation after its merger with the body, which was not recognised by the world body. Pakistan had to participate in the event along with host team India, New Zealand and Argentina. But the black sticks pull-out compelled the Indians to cancel the tournament leaving the Pakistan preparation in tatters which was planning for a comprehensive schedule and they now felt the set back ahead of the Champions Trophy which now had eight teams instead of six.
