Leandro Negre, the President of the FIH, has been liaising with the Indian authorities to try to ensure that the four-time World Cup winners will be able to travel to the capital.

Negre said: "I believe that the organisers will be providing special security to Pakistan team because there could be some crazy elements who may try to take advantage of presence of Pakistan team in India to create a bad situation.

"Security of the Pakistan team is a very important issue in the prevailing situation and FIH will play its due role in this regard."

Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008, which New Delhi blamed on the banned Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Security is also a sensitive issue in Delhi following erroneous reports in The Daily Telegraph earlier this week that England planned to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games, which are due open there on October 3, because their safety could not be guaranteed.

The World Cup will be closely watched by several countries before finalising their arrangements for the Commonwealth Games.

Mike Stanley, the President of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, said: “If there are security issues [at the World Cup], obviously we’ll examine them further.

"The message from us is that security is very important.

"Our position is that we’re planning to be at the [Commonwealth] Games but we’re constantly monitoring the situation through various agencies and if more information comes to light, we’ll reassess.

"Security is an important issue for us at every Games and we’ll take heed of the advice we’re given."

Negre (pictured) claimed he has also been reassured by the Indian Government that there will be not any problems for Pakistan players applying for visas, unlike Pakistani cricketers who have been denied the correct paperwork to play in the Indian Premier League.

He said: "FIH is in constant with the Indian authorities.
 
"I am confident that there will be no such problem as we look forward to an exciting and successful World Cup in India.

"FIH is monitoring the situation on regular basis and there should be any problem for issuing visas to Pakistan and their safe stay in India."

India and Pakistan have been drawn together in Pool B of the World Cup alongside Australia, Spain, England and South Africa in the 12-nation tournament to be played in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13.

Negre has made it one of his main goals to revitalise hockey in India and Pakistan, which he has visited and claimed international teams should visit to play there despite the security problems in the country.

He said: "Pakistan is a role model country for its services for the cause of hockey and introduction of Champions Trophy.

"Besides, it also helped many hockey playing nations to help develop and promote their hockey and now it is the time that it should get help and cooperation from them to resume its international hockey at its soil."

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