Down memory lane: Pakistan, India to clash at Slough Hockey Club

Three-match series will feature legends from both sides

FAISALABAD: Hockey fans around the globe have something to look forward to with arch-rivals Pakistan and India taking on each other in mid-May in a three-match series organised by England’s Slough Hockey Club.

Both countries will have veteran players among their ranks. The Pakistan squad will include the likes of Muhammad Atiq, Muhammad Rizwan, Muhammad Khalid, Akhtar Ali, Muhammad Imran, Muhammad Sharif, Kamran Ashraf, Muhammad Hussain, Muhammad Saqlain, Rehan Butt, Salman Akbar, Muhammad Arshad, Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, Tahir Zaman, Babar Abdullah, Ali Afraz and Tariq Aziz.



“It is a very good step taken by the Slough Hockey Club, which is run by an Indian player Harjit Sandhu,” former captain Muhammad Imran told The Express Tribune. “People always look forward to this clash. They have also laid a new AstroTurf which will be inaugurated in this three-match series.”

Imran added that by bringing in legends of the game, the club has allowed fans to see them in action one last time. “These players are not seen in action anymore and people might have forgotten their game,” he said. “This is where they will see the likes of the famous Shahbaz Ahmed Senior in action once more.”



Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior also praised Slough Hockey Club. “This is a very good initiative taken by the hockey club,” he said adding that everyone wants to see the nations play. “The three matches will be played on May 13, May 14 and May 15.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 26^th,  2016.

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