Olympian samiullah

Hockey World Cup: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will take government advice on playing India in this year's FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands, as the tension between the two countries has spilt over into sports, a news report said on Thursday.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan have been drawn in Pool D of the 16-team World Cup, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced while unveiling the draw of the event. However, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials told Telecom Asia Sport that they will follow the government's decision on whether to take the field against India when they are scheduled to meet in a first-round match on August 19.

The Men's Hockey World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30. This will be Pakistan's first World Cup appearance since finishing 12th out of 16 teams in the event held in Bhubaneswar, India, in 2018. Pakistan had failed to qualify for the event in 2014 and 2022.