TNI Bureau: All nine Pakistani Hockey players, who had come to India to play in the ongoing Hockey India League (HIL), will return home amid the escalation of tension between India and Pakistan at the LoC.

The decision was taken with the consent of Hockey India (HI) and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), sensing the gravity of the situation and the mood in the nation. All players will receive their contract payment for 2013 in full despite not playing in HIL games.

Earlier, the Mumbai Magicians had to shift to Delhi after the Shiv Sena protested against the presence of four Pakistani players in the team. The Pakistan women’s cricket team is also unlikely to visit India for the Women’s World Cup to be held on January 31-February 17.