Pak likely to pull out from hockey, squash events in India

In a tit-for-tat response, Sports Ministry has virtually prompted the Government to pull out from upcoming sporting events in India, who decided against touring Pakistan for a cricket series.

In a tit-for-tat response, Sports Ministry has virtually prompted the Government to pull out from upcoming sporting events in India, who decided against touring Pakistan for a cricket series citing a diplomatic stand-off following the recent Mumbai terror attacks.

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Pakistan's Federal Secretary of Sports Ashraf Khan has described the situation as "so hot" and said it was not advisable for the players to tour India in the current circumstances.

Pakistan is scheduled to take part in a four-nation hockey series to be played in Chandigarh and Jalandhar next February after it's squash team has a chance to defend Asian junior title in Chennai on January 16.

"Allowing our squash and hockey players to leave for India will be too risky at the moment as the gravity of the situation does not allow us to send our sports teams there," Ashraf was quoted as saying in the 'Dawn'.

Asked if security was a concern or it was a tit-for-tat response, Ashraf admitted that it was in reply to India scrapping its tour of Pakistan.

"The situation is so hot that I don't think it will be advisable for Pakistan team to tour India, particularly when Indians have refused to come to Pakistan. So, we have to look at that but yes, we have not taken final decision," he told a television channel.