Briefing the media here on Sunday, Calzado admitted that the FIH was seized of the matter, especially in view of the situation in Pakistan. "For the moment, we will keep in touch with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF). Akhtar Rasool (PHF president) has informed that on his return to Pakistan after the World Cup, he will assess the situation and will keep us posted of the developments," the FIH president said.

FIH secretary-general Els van Breda Vriesman intervened to say, "Pakistan have the right to conduct Champions Trophy once every three years. As such, we have no alternative site in case it could not be held in Pakistan, for any reason, this year."

Referring to the mandatory merger of the men's andwomen's hockey governing bodies, Calzado said only four countries, including India, were still to unite. "We had decided at the last Congress in 1996 that the men's and women's association in all our member countries should merge by the year 2000. We have been assured by the Indian officials that the two units would merge before the deadline," Calzado said.

Regarding the venue for the 2002 World Cup, Calzado said a decision would be taken in the November meeting of the council. Likewise, questions regarding allowing teams to have 18 players from the present 16, in view of the increasing number of injuries and lack of recovery period between matches, and on the number of teams for the next World Cup, did not receive definitive answers.