There won't be any security issue for our players: PHF secy

"We are confident that there will be no security issues for our players as the organizers of the league have promised the top security arrangements for them," PHF secretary Asif Bajwa told PTI.

Trouble broke out on Sunday when some workers of the Shiv Sena party protested outside a hockey ground in Mumbai where Pakistani players signed on to play for the Mumbai Magicians team were practising.

According to one of the players, the Indian goalkeeper of the team stood up to the protesters who were demanding that the players be handed over to them.

"We had to exit the ground through the backdoor to avoid the protesters," the player who didn't want to be named said on telephone from New Delhi.

The players than flew to Delhi with the rest of the team which plays in Delhi. But Bajwa said that they had been in touch with Hockey India who had assured them things were under control.

"We are not worried because our cricket team also went to India recently and faced no problems whatsoever. The security was very tight. A handful of people protesting against our players can be expected at anytime," Bajwa said.

The PHF has not only granted permission to nine players to take part in the officially sanctioned HIL but also to some other players for taking part in the unofficial World Series Hockey.

The nine players in the IHL include Mohammad Irfan, Imran Butt, Rizwan Junior, Rashid Mehmood, Fareed Ahmed, Mohammad Tauseeq, Shafqat Rasool, Rashid Shah and Rizwan Senior. MORE