Zia echoes international hockey body’s interest

FIH wants to revive hockey in Pakistan, says former PHF president.

KARACHI: Providing security to international teams will be on the agenda of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) delegation that is planning to meet the Pakistan government, said former Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Qasim Zia.

“After the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, Pakistan has been unable to host any international event here due to the foreign teams’ security concerns,” said Zia, who is also also an executive board member of the FIH.

The FIH on Saturday expressed its readiness in helping Pakistan stage international hockey on their home grounds.

“We will be doing things step by step to ensure that international hockey returns back to Pakistan,” said FIH President Leandro Nagre.

He also revealed that teams from Argentina, Poland and other countries are ready to visit Pakistan.

Meanwhile, PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid said that the national body is working on sending the team on tours .

“We will be meeting the officials of the Korean and Malaysian federations to arrange Pakistan’s tour ahead of the Asian Games,” he said.

He added that the PHF is also looking forward to organising a bilateral series with India.

“India are just waiting for their government’s permission, and I hope the series materialises soon,” said Mujahid.

India convey positive response

Hockey India (HI), who previously said that the bilateral series may be pushed to next year, is now interested in planning their tour of Pakistan in August.

“We will present a proposal to the newly-elected government about the bilateral series within 15 to 20 days,” Secretary General HI Narinder Batra told The Express Tribune.

“We prefer going to Pakistan instead of inviting them here, this will serve to melt the frost between the two nations and would ensure a beginning of new relations,” he said. “The series will probably be held between the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, which means somewhere around mid-August.”

Meanwhile, in the FIH World Cup, Argentina overcame Korea 5-0 in the men’s event to lead Group B with nine points alongside Netherlands, while Germany defeated New Zealand 5-3. In the women’s event, US won 4-1 against Germany in their Group B match.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2014.

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