Pakistan will welcome the Chinese hockey team for a four-match series this month, keen to encourage international sport back to the country, an official said Monday.
Foreign teams have avoided Pakistan since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and wounding seven visiting players and their assistant coach.
For years before that, Western teams were reluctant to tour Pakistan, worried about security after the 9/11 attacks and the 2001 US-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan. Pakistan last hosted top hockey in the 2004 Champions Trophy.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said the Chinese tour was significant.
“It will help in resuming international hockey ties on Pakistani soil and we eagerly look forward to it,” said secretary Asif Bajwa.
The PHF said it had requested water-tight security.
China will play their opening match in Karachi on December 21, with further matches in Karachi on December 22, Faisalabad on December 24 and Lahore on December 25.
“Our major focus is to bring international hockey back to Pakistan and we are thankful to the Chinese Hockey Federation for supporting our cause, and this will be on a reciprocal basis as we will tour them next year,” said Bajwa.
So, after loosing miserably in the recently concluded Champions Trophy the focus of the PHF has changed to bring international hockey. What a way to get away from a disaster. PHF needs a major overhauling from the top to the bottom. Heads should roll and fresh people should be introduced. After being 8th ranking out of 8 teams in CT, Now relatively the most recent entrant in field hockey China is touring to play. It is a good sign to resume international hockey. Suppose if Belgium,Argentina,India, Malaysia,Japan, South africa, Canada and China will be in CT tournament, the way team played they could have lost to all these countries, too. Pakistan has lost to all these countries in last 2 years under this very inconsistent coach and his method. So immediate changes are required in the OHF and to prepare for Olympics time management has become so important. Clock is ticking, tick-tock, Good Luck.
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