Pakistan High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood Sunday welcomed the Pakistani hockey team visiting India for the Hockey World Cup.  "Mahmood extended a warm welcome to members of the Pakistan Hockey contingent," the Pakistan embassy said in a release.

The high commissioner, senior officials of the Pakistan mission and representatives of Hockey India were present at the airport here during the team's transit on its way to Bhubaneswar, it said.

The team entered India through the Wagah-Attari border, according to the release.

For their part, team manager Hasan Sardar and Captain Muhamad Rizwan thanked the high commissioner and other senior officials for their support.

"High Commissioner Sohail Mahmood extended best wishes to the Pakistani hockey team for success during the Hockey World Cup," the release said.

The Pakistani team will play its pool matches against Germany on December 1, Malaysia on December 5, and the Netherlands on December 9.