Hockey: Pakistan, India set for resumption in ties
Indian officials confirm invitation sent to the PHF.
KARACHI:
After cricket boards from both sides mended ways by announcing a bilateral series this December, Pakistan and India have also moved closer in reviving bilateral hockey ties.
Hockey India (HI) has invited the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to hold a discussion for resumption of the series with their traditional rivals. HI Secretary-General Narinder Batra confirmed sending an invitation to his Pakistani counterparts.
“We want to revive hockey series from next year,” Batra told The Express Tribune. “We want to play a five-match series with Pakistan every year on a home-and-away basis.”
India finished last in the 2012 London Olympics, while Pakistan ended seventh and Batra felt the resumption will help both countries revive their lost glory in the sport, adding that the choice of which country hosting the series first will be decided by mutual consent.
“We will meet the PHF officials soon over it.”
PHF welcomes invitation
Meanwhile, PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa welcomed the invitation.
“It’s a positive development,” said Bajwa. “I will go on September 15 along with the PHF President Qasim Zia to finalise terms. We want India to come here first and we’ll convey this in the meeting.”
Bajwa said relations between the PHF and HI have improved after India’s eleventh-hour withdrawal from a tri-nation event in Lahore earlier this year.
“We’ll have to move forward by forgetting past issues. Pakistan and India were major forces in world hockey in the past because they played each other on a regular basis. The bilateral series will again lift the standard of the game in both countries.”
London repercussions
Meanwhile, the PHF officials assembled for the time to have an ‘informal’ talk amid calls to revamp the team and the management after a poor finish at the Olympics.
“We had an informal meeting about future plans,” said Bajwa. “But the future course of action will be decided in the light of the team management’s report on Olympics which we are expecting after August 30.”
Olympians gear up for ‘unprecedented’ protest
While the PHF makes up its mind, former Olympians already have and are close to finalising their campaign for removal of the current PHF set-up.
“We are planning an unprecedented protest,” said an Olympian. “Changes from top to bottom have become necessary. We will finalise our plan and that may include hunger strikes in front of the parliament and Supreme Court.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2012.
After cricket boards from both sides mended ways by announcing a bilateral series this December, Pakistan and India have also moved closer in reviving bilateral hockey ties.
Hockey India (HI) has invited the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to hold a discussion for resumption of the series with their traditional rivals. HI Secretary-General Narinder Batra confirmed sending an invitation to his Pakistani counterparts.
“We want to revive hockey series from next year,” Batra told The Express Tribune. “We want to play a five-match series with Pakistan every year on a home-and-away basis.”
India finished last in the 2012 London Olympics, while Pakistan ended seventh and Batra felt the resumption will help both countries revive their lost glory in the sport, adding that the choice of which country hosting the series first will be decided by mutual consent.
“We will meet the PHF officials soon over it.”
PHF welcomes invitation
Meanwhile, PHF Secretary Asif Bajwa welcomed the invitation.
“It’s a positive development,” said Bajwa. “I will go on September 15 along with the PHF President Qasim Zia to finalise terms. We want India to come here first and we’ll convey this in the meeting.”
Bajwa said relations between the PHF and HI have improved after India’s eleventh-hour withdrawal from a tri-nation event in Lahore earlier this year.
“We’ll have to move forward by forgetting past issues. Pakistan and India were major forces in world hockey in the past because they played each other on a regular basis. The bilateral series will again lift the standard of the game in both countries.”
London repercussions
Meanwhile, the PHF officials assembled for the time to have an ‘informal’ talk amid calls to revamp the team and the management after a poor finish at the Olympics.
“We had an informal meeting about future plans,” said Bajwa. “But the future course of action will be decided in the light of the team management’s report on Olympics which we are expecting after August 30.”
Olympians gear up for ‘unprecedented’ protest
While the PHF makes up its mind, former Olympians already have and are close to finalising their campaign for removal of the current PHF set-up.
“We are planning an unprecedented protest,” said an Olympian. “Changes from top to bottom have become necessary. We will finalise our plan and that may include hunger strikes in front of the parliament and Supreme Court.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2012.