Pak hockey players express interest in ‘World Series Hockey’
Legendary players of the Pakistan’s hockey team, which clinched a gold medal in the recently concluded Asian Games held in Chinese city of Guangzhou, have expressed their interests to become part of the upcoming India-based hockey league (World Series Hockey).
However, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), the organiser of the event has left the decisive part on the government side in this regard.
Top players of the Pakistan’s hockey team including Rehan Butt and skipper Zeeshan Ashraf wanted to contest the World Series Hockey, which will also be comprised of more than sixty players from within India and from abroad as well.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) is going to organise an annual based hockey-league on lines of the Premier Hockey League (PHL), which was played from 2005 to 2008. Some 24 Pakistani players had taken part in the PHL and proved themselves best in the region.
Captain of the Greenshirts, Zeeshan Ashraf talking to the media said that they wanted to play the ‘World Series Hockey’ as they were looking it from long time. He further said that the ball is in the court of the Indian government whether it invites them
or not.
Ashraf is the skipper of the Greenshirts, which turned golden in the Asiad, is seasoned hockey professional. He was part of Chandigarh Dynamos and Chennai Veerans in the earlier versions of the PHL, which had lost its worth later on due to management issues.
Ashraf was of the view that the sport activities should be dealt beyond political controversies and more bilateral series should be organised in order to promote the game in the region.
Another legendary star of the Pakistan’s hockey team, Rehan Butt, who is currently contesting Malaysian Hockey League (MHL) also showed interest to become part of the upcoming glamorous event. He said,
“Definitely, we would like to play that League. Our experience in PHL (Premiere Hockey League) was terrific and I enjoy playing in India more than anywhere else.”
On the other side, newly elected President of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), RK Shetty talking to reporters said that the decision regarding the inclusion of the Pakistani players would be finalised by the government. He further said that they wanted
to invite the Greenshirts, who are the crowd-pullers, adding that they would request the authorities concerned to permit them in the best interests of the game.
RK Shetty opined that hopefully the government would have no issue with the Pakistani stars, who had taken part in the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games held in India earlier this year.
It is pertanent to mention here that the Pakistani cricketers had not been invited by the officials of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after the Mumbai terror attacks, which occurred on November 26th, 2008. However later on critics declared it
a wrong decision and hopefully it will not be practised again this time with hockey.
The President of IHF stated that Pakistani players should be part of the hockey league and vice-versa the Indian players in Pakistan, adding that who would see the competition if the arch-rivals would not face each other.
Apart from that, sports authorities in Pakistan are also mulling to organise a home-based hockey league comprised of world international players including Indian stars.
Secretary General of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Asif Bajwa commenting on the recently announced ‘World Series Hockey’ said that it would be decided after the invitation from the Indian authorities. He stated,
“We don't know about the World Series but we are going to have our own league next year in Lahore or Dubai. We have invited India also but did not get any reply from them as of now. As far as Pakistani player’s participation in Indian League is concerned,
let them invite us first.”
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