BHF expects good news soon over players’ age issue

798

DHAKA, Aug 30, 2020 (BSS) – The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) is
expecting a good news in soon as the International Hockey Federation (IHF) is
going to give a special permission regarding the players’ age barrier issue
for the Bangabandhu U-21 men’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey to be held next year.

“We are not officially informed yet … as far as I know the IHF have
already given the permission regarding the players’ age issue but the Asian
Hockey Federation (AHF) did not officially inform us yet … we hope we’ll
get a good news soon as the AHF will officially clear the matter to all
participating countries by Tuesday (September 1),” BHF acting general
secretary Mohammad Yousuf told BSS today.

The officials of BHF have begun contact to the AHF after the news
published on Friday last that eight hockey players would not be able to play
the junior Asia Cup due to over age complication.

The tournament was earlier scheduled to hold on June 4-14 this year but
the problem has aroused as the tournament had been postponed and shifted to
January next due to COVID-19 pandemic.

It brought a big blow for Bangladesh junior hockey team as eight players
will cross their age limit of twenty one. Among the eight, five players are
experience and important of main eleven.

Earlier, the AHF informed that the players, whose age are within twenty
one year till December 31, 2020, will only able to take part in the
tournament scheduled for March next year. But now as per the special
permission which the AHF is going to get from IHF, players born after January
1, 1999, will able to participate in the January next year’s U-21 Asia Cup
Hockey.

The BHF will host the Bangabandhu Men’s Junior Asia Cup Hockey scheduled
to be held on 21-30 January next at Moulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium.

The ten countries are Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan, India, Oman, Japan,
South Korea, China, Malaysia, Pakistan and host Bangladesh.

Among the ten countries top six teams – Bangladesh, India, Japan,
Pakistan, South Korea and Malaysia — of last tournament will directly play
this year’s tournament while remaining four teams — China, Chinese Taipei ,
Oman and Uzbekistan – have come after participating in the selection round
held in Oman last year.

The top three countries of the Junior Asia Cup will qualify for the next
edition of Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup.