Report: Pakistan hockey team gets clearance to travel to India for Asian Champions Trophy 2023

The Green Shirts are set to face arch-rivals India on August 9.

Pakistan men's national hockey team have been issued NOC (No Objection Certificate) to participate in the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy 2023 scheduled to be held in Chennai from 03 to 12 August. The Green Shirts are schedule to begin their tournament against Malaysia on August 3. They will lock horns against arch-rivals on August 9.

As reported by PTI, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Haider Hussain confirmed on Friday that the Sports Board has got the NOC from the ministry of interior.

“The contingent will leave on Tuesday via the Wagah border and travel to Amritsar from where they have been booked on a domestic flight for Chennai," he added.

However three official of the Pakistan contingent have still not received NOCs and are waiting for their approval. Shahnaz who was the coach back in 2014 when Pakistan lost to India in the Champions Trophy is the newly appointed consultant of the national team; is yet to receive NOC.

Pakistan is scheduled to play their opening encounter on August 3rd against Malaysia, who arrived in Chennai on July 29th. The much-awaited Indo-Pak clash is set to take place on August 9th. The men in green have had good success in the tournament but have been off colour in the past few years - including not qualifying for the FIH World Cup earlier this year.

Pakistan's Squad for Asian Champions Trophy 2023

Muhammad Umar Bhatta (c), Akmal Hussain, Abdullah Ishtiaq Khan, Muhammad Abdullah, Muhammad Sufyan Khan, Ehtsham Aslam, Osama Bashir, Aqeel Ahmed, Arshad Liaquat, Muhammad Imad, Abdul Hanan Shahid, Zakaria Hayat, Rana Abdul Waheed Ashraf (Vice Captain), Roman, Muhammad Murtaza Yaqoob, Muhammad Shahzaib Khan, Afraz, Abdul Rahman, while the standby includes Ali Raza, Muhammad Baqir, Muhammad Nadeem Khan, Abdul Wahab, Waqar Ali, Muhammad Arsalan and Abdul Qayyum.