World Hockey XI arrives today in Karachi

KARACHI: All the players part of the World Hockey XI would be here by Wednesday night, PHF vice president Tariq Huda announced on Tuesday.

The World XI will practise on Thursday (tomorrow) evening. The first match between Pakistan and World XI will be held in Karachi on Friday. Huda was addressing a press conference at Edhi stadium. He was flanked by Olympian Islahuddin, Iftikhar Syed, Badar Rafaie and M Zakir. He said that Pakistan’s great penalty corner flicker Sohail Abbas would be part of the World XI.

Huda added that those Pakistani legends who were not included in the Hall of Fame list would be given the awards the next time. He said that six Pakistani former legends and five foreign players would be given the awards. The Pakistanis to get awards this time are Islahuddin, Shahnaz Sheikh, Samiullah, Hasan Sardar, Akhtar Rasool, and Shahbaz Ahmed.

The foreigners are Holland’s Paul Litgents and Bovelandar, German Christian Blunck, Spain’s Johan Escaray, and Australian Don Priar. Islahuddin said that the visit of World XI would lead to the revival of international hockey in the country. The foreign players will meet Sindh Governor on Friday.