Pakistan Hockey Federation to take step for arranging international hockey matches
The decision of PHF is really considered as a bold and positive step for the revival of the national sport in the country. Considering the incident of the terrorist attacks in Lahore on the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009, foreigners
are unlikely to take a risk to play in pakistan. The stigma attached to Pakistan can only be removed if the PHF and other sporting boards achieve success in their future planning.
While talking to the reporters on Friday, Asif Bajwa said that the federation is dealing with the project which will host a couple of series involving international teams in Pakistan.
While talking about the progress of their plans, the former Olympian said that he can’t reveal more details on this issue however, he is hopeful to conduct international games in Pakistan in February or March next year. Bajwa reported
the possibility of India and Malaysia taking part in a couple of bilateral series in the start of 2011.
Besides, the PHF is in the process of designing an international league it plans to host in Dubai next year.
“We hope to make good progress on the league by the end of this month,” Bajwa said.
The purpose of the league is to invite the top players from all over the world.
“Most of the teams will be involved in their domestic events over the next four to five months which is why there are no international events till May,” said Bajwa.
The next major international target of the Pakistani hockey team will be the 2011 edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, which will be played in Malaysia in May, 2011.
Apart from these, the PHF also plans to put together an African Safari for the national team before the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Further plans of the PHF also include a tour to Egypt and South Africa but only if the board manages
to schedule the bilateral matches against the two countries.
All of these strategies will be useful for the PHF to train the team for mega international events, as the team will go through the different international and national exposures.
PHF is covering all aspects to prepare the Pakistani squad for the 2012London Olymics, since at the end of this month the national hockey chiefs will evaluate the team’s management and selection committee and will bring changes,
if needed.
The duration of the Pakistani hockey team’s management and selectors was up to the end of Asian Games 2010, in which Pakistan won a gold medal.
It is also reported that the PHF is planning to appoint a new team manager and new selectors by keeping its option open.
“Nothing has been decided yet,” he said. “We have won a major title after a long wait and are still celebrating that victory which is why other issues are not on our mind right now,” added Bajwa.
However, according to media reports, the PHF secretary confirms that the issues will be sorted out in the meeting of the Executive Board at the end of December in Lahore.
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