World-XI all set to visit Pakistan in January 2018
To revive the national game hockey in the country, World-XI is scheduled to visit Pakistan on 10th January 2018 to play against the National side, says President Pakistan hockey Federation (PHF).
The W-XI team will start its tour from 10th January 2018 and it is going to be the 1st step in 10 years for the revival of national game in Pakistan. Brig (r) Khalid Sajjad Khokar, President PFH in a press conference unveiled the details about the schedule. “World-XI side will visit and play against Pakistan hockey side like in the past a team played series of 3 t20’s against Pakistan cricket team” he added.
He said the government has given the security clearance for World XI tour and International Hockey Federation (FIH) also sanctioned the visit. “The situation is gradually changing and we are confident that after the World XI tours Pakistan, it will also pave the way open for foreign players to take part in our hockey league that we plan to launch sometime in 2018,” the PHF president said. PHF did not reveal the details about the arrangement and venues of the World XI. He further said, PHF was now on the lookout for sponsors and to sell broadcasting rights of the matches.
He said we had set a vision of 2020 and currently our focus is the Asian Games through which we want to qualify directly for the Olympics. He further added that Indian team is investing too much in hockey and because of that India is becoming high-profile hockey nation. In comparison to India, Pakistan is deprived of international events at home because of security concerns. He further said that the PHF had already done its homework to ensure the national senior team got visas to participate in the 2018 World Cup in India.
