Pakistan likely to invite Indian Hockey Players for World XI
Pakistan may invite Indian Hockey players to take in upcoming World Hockey XI, which will play three match series in first two weeks of December. Modern day hockey giant from Australia is also expected to be part of the World XI team.
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will officially contact to Indian Hockey Federation to send 1 or 2 good players to participate for upcoming World XI matches once it get permission from the government.
The PHF, in collaboration with Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) is organizing the World XI matches in an effort to revive international hockey in the country.
Recently, FIH had also helped PHF in getting 11 foreign goalkeepers to play in a domestic tournament. The players from Australia and Argentina participated in Nine-a-Side Nishan-e-Haider hockey tournament in Karachi.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan and India have not played any bilateral series in either cricket or hockey for many years because of political tension. Both countries have competed in international tournaments though.
Pakistan could not participate in the Junior Hockey World Cup as its players were not issued visas in time by the Indian government but PHF, as a goodwill gesture is going to contact India’s hockey federation to nominate a couple of players for the World XI.
A meeting of PHF high officials chaired by its president Brig (rtd) Khalid Khokhar will be held in next few days to decide the details of the three matches, which will be held in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi.
The PHF official said that they were in contact with federations of Australia, Holland, Germany, England, Belgium, South Korea, Malaysia, and China to form the World XI. “We will not forget our friends in world hockey who are helping us,” the official said. The PHF has assured the officials of these federations that foolproof security arrangements would be made for all those visiting Pakistan.
