Australia will defend their men's Champions Trophy field hockey crown on home soil this year with Melbourne named as the host city on Tuesday.

Australia maintained its stranglehold on hockey's Champions Trophy with a 1-0 win over Spain on Sunday, claiming a record fourth straight title through a disputed goal to Eddie Ockenden.

A long-awaited ICC Test Championship is in severe danger of being delayed until at least 2017 because the ICC member nations are not prepared to accept a short-term financial hit to accommodate it.

Shifted out of India due to the dispute related to hockey's governance in the country, the high-profile men's Champions Trophy will now be held in Auckland, New Zealand from December 3 to 11.

Less than three months after asking the Indian Hockey Federation to exhibit patience and await the government's process in solving the differences between IHF and its rival Hockey India (HI), the International Hockey Federation (FIH) appears to have pulled the plug on the move.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation will not bid for the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy, which was shifted from India due to the administrative row over the governance of the game there.

Indian Olympic Association on Tuesday, termed International Hockey Federation's decision to strip India of this year's Champion's Trophy hockey event as "uncalled for" and asked the world body to restore the high-profile tournament to the country.

India beat South Korea 5-3 to move to the top of the league table in the inaugural Men's Champions Trophy here on Tuesday.

Sports Minister Ajay Maken said on Tuesday that it was a big loss that the venue for the Champions Trophy has been shifted out of India. This after the International Hockey Federation (FIH) announced that the prestigious event will not take place here due to administration related problems with hockey in the country.

Highly disappointed with India losing the right to host of this year's Champions Trophy hockey tournament, national team coach Michael Nobbs said it would rob the fans off an opportunity to witness the game.