Champions Australia pull out of Champions Trophy

Olympic field hockey champions Australia pull out of the six-nation tournament to be held in Pakistan later this year citing security fears.

Olympic field hockey champion Australia has pulled out of the six-nation Champions Trophy tournament to be held in Pakistan later this year citing security fears.

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The Hockey Australia board made the decision not to attend the December 1-9 tournament based on Australian foreign ministry advice against traveling in Pakistan, Hockey Australia chief executive Linden Adamson said on Tuesday.

"It was a board decision. The players and coaching staff have been made aware of it, and at this stage I haven't heard any adverse reaction to it," Adamson said.

It is the third time Hockey Australia has decided against sending its men's team to Pakistan for the annual tournament because of security fears.

Australia also declined to play the 2004 tournament in Lahore, and the 2001 event, which was subsequently shifted to Rotterdam, the Netherlands.