Dubai keen to host hockey matches

Dubai Sports City (DSC) hockey stadium eyeing Pakistan-India series to inaugurate the venue.

DUBAI: The Dubai Sports City (DSC) hockey stadium is eyeing a Pakistan-India series to inaugurate the venue after the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), following the cricket board’s footsteps, had approached DSC earlier this year to act as hosts due to countries’ refusal to tour Pakistan.

“The PHF is yet to make a proposal but they have been in talks with an event management company to hold their games here,” DSC Sports Business’ General Manger Maqbul Dudhia told The Express Tribune in Dubai. “It would be a lovely option to inaugurate the venue by playing India and Pakistan here.”

DSC has a hockey stadium with a 5,000 capacity, has been built under the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) guidelines and features two water-based artificial surfaces. UAE is also home to thousands of Indians and Pakistanis that will allow the organisers to earn gate-money as well.

Earlier this year, Pakistan had to play its hockey matches in Qatar, in order to prepare itself for the World Cup, where they played a two-match series against Holland.

“It was unfortunate that we weren’t able to meet the PHF secretary but their willingness to play here is encouraging and its up to the PHF to come up with a plan and we’ll help. It would be a wonderful experience to have Pakistan hockey players here since we already have the cricketers playing in the UAE that has hosted many matches with enormous success.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 17^th, 2010.