Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa, on Monday, said Indian hockey team would tour Pakistan next year.
The former Olympian said, just like cricket Pakistan also wants to resume hockey ties with India.
The revival of Pak-India bilateral hockey series is in its phase and a two-member delegation of Pakistan Hockey Federation will be visiting India from September 15 to sort out necessary modalities to hold the event next year.
“We had very productive meetings with the officials of Hockey India during London Olympics and we discussed issues relating to revival of Pak-India bilateral series in length and finalized many aspects regarding the event,” said Secretary PHF, Mohamad Asif Bjawa on Monday.
Bajwa said it is in the larger interest of sub-contingent hockey that Pak-India play on regular basis and keep improving in the game to lift the level of their game.
President PHF Qasim Zia and Asif Bajwa will be visiting India for four-day to finalize the modalities of the series at meetings with the officials of the Hockey India.
“It is our desire that Indian hockey team should visit Pakistan first as we have visited them on many occasions in the past and we believe the visiting of Indian team early next year will mark a new era in Pak-India hockey,” he added.
Bajwa described of Pak-India series of greater importance to lift the sagging fortunate of the game. “Once this region was the power house of the hockey and now it is struggling (region) at a low level at international ranking and the more these two countries play hockey it will be better for our hockey.
He also said that a return tour is also on the cards and hoped that the Pak India hockey series will become a regular feature.
Hockey India has invited Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials to finalise terms for a regular bilateral series between the two countries.
“The series may be resumed early next year,” said Bajwa, adding that PHF’s priority would be to host Indian team first.
The PHF has come under fire after the London Olympics, with former hockey greats gearing up to launch a campaign against it.
Samiullah, Shahnaz Sheikh, Qamar Zia, Qamar Ibrahim and Salim Sherwani besides others, want to start a campaign calling for the removal of PHF officials.
Country’s chef de mission for Olympics has also called for a cut in the funds allocated to the PHF.
Pakistan-India played their last bilateral series way back in 2006 with Pakistan winning three matches with two ending in draw and India won a lone fixture.
To a question, Secretary PHF, said during the meetings the strength of the matches and the final dates will be finalized after which the tour programme will be announced.
He said the revival of Pak-India series will not only serve the cause of hockey in the region but will serve as an effective medium to bring close the people of both the countries besides bettering the mutual relations.
