The Indian Hockey Federation reacted sharply to the Pakistan federation's allegation that India won the Asia Cup hockey tournament due to biased umpiring.
Rejecting the claims, IHF secretary K Jothikumaran said the accusations do not have any basis.
"I can only say that this is a bundle of lies. I have never heard of the person (PHF media manager Altaf Sabir) who has issued the statement. Who is he to talk about this? Either it should come from the president or secretary of the PHF.
"What is the meaning of linking India and Pakistan? We were not even in the same group in the Asia Cup," Jothikumaran said.
"It's India which usually becomes the victim of poor umpiring. If you analyse, some decisions went against us in the Asia Cup," he added.
Jothikumaran said such a statement from the PHF only indicated the poor state of the game in Pakistan.
"If such a thing has happened, I can say it shows the pathetic situation of hockey in Pakistan," he said.
On the possibility of the Champions Trophy, which was shifted from Pakistan, coming to India, Jothikumaran said the IHF is hopeful of hosting it.
"I feel we will get it. Going by the successful conduct of the Asia Cup, the FIH should allot the Champions Trophy to India to keep up the momentum in India," he said.
