The Pakistan Hockey Federation has appointed Qasim Khan to coordinate with the hockey and security officials during the Pakistan and China series that will start later this month.
The Chinese hockey team will visit Pakistan from December 19 to 26 and will play 4-test match series against Pakistan. The Chinese team will play four matches against Pakistan’s mix of senior and junior players. 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. The national selection committee has approved the same team, which participated in the Champions Trophy Tournament held at Auckland. The Committee has made only one change in the team. Due to injury to Sohail Abbas, Muhammad Umar Bhutta is inducted in the team. The Pakistan team will assemble at the Hockey Club of Pakistan Stadium, Karachi, on December 18. PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said that the China series would be the start of the international team’s visit to Pakistan. “We have put into place the highest level of security for the series and the Chinese team visit to Pakistan will pave the way for other international teams visit to Pakistan,” he added. “We are also planning a four-nation tournament later in the coming months and preparation in this regard will be moved forward after the series against China,” an official of the PHF revealed.
He further stated that the PHF also plans to hold another two international events next year. “We would hold Asian Club Championship and the Indoor Asia Cup,” he maintained. PHF secretary Asif Bajwa said: “We are hoping that this series will eventually pave the way for foreign teams to play in Pakistan in other sports as well. We have held discussions with the government and they have assured us they will provide us top level security. This tour is very significant for Pakistan sports,” Bajwa said. The foreign teams showed reservations after the terrorists attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in March 2009.
