Bringing hockey back: World XI to tour Pakistan

Greenshirts will take on some of the world’s finest players but matches about much more than just results

KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation has gotten the country’s hockey community buzzing with the news that a World XI team will be touring Pakistan from January 10, with former Olympians hailing this as a historic moment.

Islahuddin Siddiqui, who is also running an academy in Karachi, told The Express Tribune that these World XI matches will help renew interest in hockey among the youngsters.

"Fans of hockey and young players haven't witness international matches for a long time now, which is why interest in the game has gradually decreased," he said. “Young players need someone to follow and look up to; they need a star who they can emulate. These matches will go a long way in increasing interest in hockey.

Veteran Rehan Butt, who has seen hockey change in front of his eyes, also praised the initiative. "They have been trying to hold these matches for a while now but something or the other stopped them every time,” he said. “Pakistan haven’t done well in recent tours so they are under the cosh right now. They are trying their best to revive hockey and that is great news for the country.”

The 37-year-old, however, said he wasn’t a fan of the new five-a-side game. “Players playing five-a-side hockey don’t need much stamina since the field is much shorter, so when they play full field, they aren’t able to cope,” added Rehan. “Young players will be interested in the sport again once the World XI team tours.”

PHF president Brig (r) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar had earlier announced that the government has given clearance for the World XI tour, which also has the support of the International Hockey Federation (IHF).

"We are confident that after the World XI tours Pakistan, we can call foreign players to the country for a full-fledged hockey league in 2018,” he said.

The details of the match, or even the players involved with the World XI side are not yet known, but Khokhar said they are trying to arrange them in Karachi alongside Lahore and Islamabad.

“We are trying to hold matches in Karachi as well but the final venues will be decided later," he said.

The president revealed the support of the army, the interior ministry and the provincial governments in this.

Khokhar also claimed that the Sindh government has allocated Rs100 million from their annual sports budget to the PHF, while Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has also offered to purchase two league franchises.

He added that India have become one of the finest hockey nations around after hosting several FIH events. "Critics compare Indian hockey to Pakistan but they forget that a lot of money has been channelled into Indian hockey in recent years by private and state sponsors and that the Indian Hockey League has been a big boost for them," he said.