Four Pakistani hockey players to return home

Hockey India League (HIL) franchise Mumbai Magicians have decided to send their four Pakistani players home amid growing sub-continental tensions.

Mumbai Magicians are looking at replacing Pakistan's Fareed Ahmed, Imran Butt, Mahmood Rashid and Muhammad Tousiq with players from Australia and New Zealand.

"Keeping the public sentiment in mind, we have decided to send the players back to Pakistan. This is a decision we have taken on our own, we have not received any official communication from the league organisers," Mumbai Magicians owner Amit Burman told IANS.

"As their replacements, we have already started talking to some of the Australian and New Zealand players," he added.

Overall, nine Pakistanis were bought at the HIL auction last month. - IANS