Pakistan hockey team wants to watch 'Badhai Ho', and not Rajini's 2.0

Badhai Ho starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Neena Gupta, is one of the big hits this year

pakistan-malaysia-hockey-afp Pakistan's Ajaz Ahmad (in white) and Malaysia's Syed Cholan vie for the ball during the group stage match at the 2018 Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar | AFP

Unprecedented security is always reassuring but Pakistan hockey team currently in Bhubaneswar for the Hockey World Cup won't mind sneaking out for a late night Bollywood film to kill the monotony of shuttling between stadium and hotel.

And they have a specific choice too, but there's only one show in the morning.

"There were attempts to lure us into watching Rajinikanth's science fiction 2.0 but our boys are keen on watching Badhai Ho. But there is only one show in the morning," lamented former captain Rehan Butt, who is now an assistant coach.

Badhai Ho starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Neena Gupta, one of the big hits of the year, is a story about an elderly couple having a child and their adult sons' take on their conjugal life.

While players and teams from other participating nations can venture out as and when they wish, individual outings are a big 'No' for the Pakistani players. They are allowed to visit places in groups only and have to mandatorily inform the security a day in advance.

"We inform our security in-charge about our interest. He conveys the message and the security secures the area. They don't close the place for others, but make sure security is in place. The best part is that when people realise it is the Pakistan team, they cheer us wholeheartedly," Butt said.

The Pakistan team has been provided with a three-layer security cover once they landed in the city unlike other countries. The security layer is wider and more so because of what had happened during 2014 Champions Trophy.

After beating India in the semifinals, the Pakistanis had upset the crowd by making obscene gestures at them.

But Butt said his experience in India has always been a pleasant one.

"My experience in India has always been very good because I have visited this place regularly for hockey leagues and India-Pakistan series. As far as travelling with the national team is concerned, we have enjoyed the love of the people of Bhubaneswar. The security also has been foolproof in arranging safe trips to places of our interest," Butt said.

According to Butt, the security here is lot more lenient than what it was in New Delhi during the 2010 the Commonwealth Games.

"There was a lot more restrictions back then. Delhi, of course, is different from Bhubaneswar," he said.

—PTI