Hockey India yet to seek government’s go-ahead

PHF officials announce contradicting schedules for series.

KARACHI: With the top officials of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announcing separate schedules for hosting the bilateral series against India, their counterparts are yet to seek their government’s clearance for the tour being planned in June.       

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Hockey India’s (HI) Secretary General Dr Narinder Batra said the body will seek permission for the trip after the country’s new government is formed following the imminent general elections in India.

“We have confirmed our tour with the PHF,” said Batra.

“HI is anxious to revive the bilateral series with Pakistan, but we are yet to seek clearance which we will try for once the new government is formed.”

According to a PHF official, both the PHF and HI had earlier scheduled to hold the series in March-April, but the delay in permission from their respective governments had called on for the event’s postponement.

The traditional rivals have not played a bilateral hockey series since 2006 as the sequence was suspended in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, following which, India stalled bilateral sporting relations with Pakistan.

It may also be recalled that India pulled out of a three-nation event in Pakistan last April after its External Affairs Ministry refused permission to visit Pakistan citing security concerns, which forced the PHF to call off the tournament.

When asked about the certainty of the forthcoming series, Batra replied, “We have confirmed to send the team in June but it all depends on the government’s response.”

PHF officials give separate schedules

Interestingly, PHF President Akhtar Rasool and Secretary Rana Mujahid recently announced separate schedules for the series.

According to reports, Rasool, while speaking to reporters in Lahore, said the Indian team would arrive in Lahore on June 19 for the three-match series. He apprised that the first match would be played in Karachi on June 20, followed by matches in Faisalabad and Lahore on June 23 and 25, respectively.

On the other hand, Mujahid announced in Karachi that the Indian team would reach Karachi on June 30, while the matches will be played in July.  Both officials could not be approached despite repeated attempts.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2014.

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