Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali has met with Australian High Commissioner in Pakistan Lorica Mc Carthy, trying to persuade Australians to reconsider their decision to withdraw from this year's Men's Champions Trophy over security fears.
According to local press reports on Saturday, Jamali warned that Pakistan would consider boycotting hockey relations with Australians if their team did not turn up for the Champions Trophy scheduled from Dec. 1 to 9 in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
Talking to journalists after Friday's meeting, Jamali, a former prime minister of Pakistan, said that he had informed the Australian High Commission officials of a possible boycott from Pakistan if they did not participate in the Champions Trophy scheduled to be held.
"If they don't come here to play the Champions Trophy we will also think before visiting Australia for any hockey activity," he said.
Australia, who boycotted the same event in Pakistan in 2004, took the decision following last month's wave of suicide bombings and other attacks in Pakistan which followed the operation on a pro-Taliban mosque in Islamabad.
Besides Australia, Spain, Germany, South Korea and the Netherlands, hosts Pakistan would feature in this annual championship, which is major tournament at the international calendar after the World Cup.
He said that he had involved the High Commission officials to convince the Australian government for a peaceful resolution to the issue in Pakistan and urge Hockey Australia to send their team for the Champions Trophy.
Jamali, however, added that Hockey Australia was not under their government so they had no control over them.
Source: Xinhua
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