Rehman Malik appointed as the Patron of Pakistan Hockey Federation
Rehman Malik has been officially appointed as the Patron of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) today.
A meeting is currently being held in Lahore between Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) Secretary, Asif Bajwa, and the Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, today to discuss over the revival of Indo-Pak hockey ties along with the cricket ties.
Bajwa reported that the Prime Minister (PM) Yousuf Raza Gillani, also the Patron-in-Chief of PHF, dictated Malik to think over the revival of hockey between the two countries by arranging a hockey series, allowing to restore cricket ties too.
He added that if India sees eye-to-eye to visit Pakistan then the matches may be hosted in Lahore, Karachi and Faisalabad.
According to Bajwa, it is very essential for the Pakistan men’s national hockey team to play a three-Test series against India before the forthcoming Champions Trophy, which will be held in India in December.
When asked about the chances of the senior players, Bajwa shared the fact that whoever proves to fulfil the fitness requirements for the team, will be selected to participate in the upcoming 20th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Moreover, the PHF President, Qasim Zia, will select the captain for the national team, replacing Zeeshan Ashraf, who withdrew his name from the Azlan Shah preparatory camp.
Equal interest was found across the borders to carry on with the sports field rivalry that got restored in the ICC Cricket World Cup semi-finals in Mohali, India.
Even though, both the countries want to revive their bi-lateral sport relationship, it has become hard to allow space for a whole series in the year 2011 due to preset schedules.
Other major factors repelling Pakistan to arrange an international event are the security issues prevailing in the country.
Since the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus in March 2009, Pakistan has been ruled out of hosting any international sporting events in the country.
The meeting will discuss over the possible way out to meet both the ends for conducting a hockey series within this year.
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