Former Pakistan hockey coach criticizes India's apology demand

Karachi: Former hockey head coach Shahnaz Sheikh has criticized Hockey India President Narendra Batra's demand for apology, saying that he is disappointed by the statement and Pakistan will now reply to India on the ground.

Sheikh, however, said that Batra is a nice man and someone else was placing words in his mouth, the Express Tribune reported.

Sheikh felt that India-Pak problems related to hockey can only be solved if they play a bilateral series. He further said that Indian hockey was twisting the matter because they were not able to digest their loss against Pakistan.

Sheikh proposed the idea that Pakistan should start its own hockey league and invite Indian players to participate.

Earlier, Batra had said that India will not to play any friendly series like the Hockey India League with Pakistan until they apologise for their players misbehavior during the last year's Champions Trophy hockey tournament.

Pakistan team went on a rampage post their semi-final win against India in Bhubaneswar in December last year. The Pakistani players also showed obscene gestures to the crowd and also took off their shirts.