PVF to make all efforts for volleyball team’s tour of Europe

LAHORE: Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) chairman Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob on Saturday said that federation will try its level best to arrange a tour of Europe for its senior side next year.

“Yes it’s our desire to manage a Europe tour for our national team next year inshaAllah,” Yaqoob told ‘The News’ in an interview on Saturday.

However he said that this year they have offers from two countries, which are ready to host Pakistan.

“This year we have a couple of offers from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and we may send our junior squad there. Kuwait is not bad and Saudi Arabia is okay. If they offer us facilities in Riyadh and our juniors play a few games with their senior team then it will help our juniors to develop for the future,” Yaqoob said.

Australia’s volleyball team will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday (today) to play a three-match series against Pakistan at the Liaquat Gymnasium.

The matches are scheduled to be held on May 28, 29 and 30 before both the squads will fly out for Bahrain to feature in the AVC Challenge Cup to be held from June 2-9.

Asked whether Pakistan and Australia can negotiate for a bilateral series in future Yaqoob replied in affirmative.

“Yes it can done; we can always do that,” said Yaqoob, also a former IG Police.

After winning the Central Asian Volleyball League in Islamabad recently Pakistan team is in top gear and it is expected that the Green-shirts under skipper Murad Jehan will give tough time to Australia, a better-ranked side.

“The series will benefit both Pakistan and Australia. I think Pakistan is in top form and we can win this series. We had lost to Australia in Iran 3-2 and I think we have the capability to win,” Yaqoob said.

Yaqoob is worried about how to control the temperature during matches between Australia and Pakistan.

“The issue we are confronting is how to control the temperature at the facility as there is simmering heat these days. Before this also we installed chillers to manage the temperature but it is a temporary arrangement,” Yaqoob said.