Argentina regret to host Pak junior hockey team

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hockey is going through the worst phase in the history as Argentina Hockey Confederation has expressed their regret to host greenshirts junior team and secondly the country would also miss the Indoor World Cup starting in Berlin (Germany) in ten days time.

Pakistan emerging side and then national team was all set to tour Argentina when the South American Federation regretted hosting the team due to what was learnt as domestic and international engagements.

Though the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) officials were initially were tight lipped as to why the tour was suddenly called off, The News has learnt that first Hockey Argentina agreed to host national team and then even refused to host Pakistan national team.

“The PHF has taken up the matter with the Argentine hockey reminding them that Pakistan had always helped their hockey in the past and even have given their former players due respect,” a former player now associated with the PHF when contacted said.

He said that it was nothing less than embarrassment for Pakistan to see Argentine hockey regretting to host team at time when the tour was already scheduled.Meanwhile, Pakistan would also not be part of the World Cup (Indoor) starting in Berlin (Germany) from February 7. As many as twelve countries from all around the globe would compete in the event.

“Indoor events are also important as it teaches player how to control the ball in tightest of situation. The advent of indoor hockey has made European countries more powerful as players learnt how to control the ball and how to coordinate with other players,” a former Olympian said.

It is not yet clear as how Pakistan team would prepare for the four major international coming up this year. Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Champions Trophy and World Cup will be participated by the best of teams around. Mere playing against minnows like Japan and Oman would hardly solve the problem. “There is a need to play against the best teams around. Just playing against low ranked teams would no way improve team’s standard,” the former Olympian said.

He asked PHF officials to improve their relations with other hockey playing nation so that Pakistan could exchange tour at national level.“Mere veterans tour to country and their playing against junior string would not solve any problem,” he said.

Late Friday evening PHF issued hand out saying that tour to Argentina would have been a very costly exercise, especially the air travel to the country. “PHF has sent a message of regret to the Argentine Hockey Confederation, who were quite keen to host Pakistan juniors,” the PHF hand out says. The actual story however is different. “The PHF has already bought tickets for the purpose. It was Argentina Confederation which refused to host Pakistan,” the source said.