US intend to play against Pakistan before qualifiers

KARACHI: The US national hockey team wants to play against Green-shirts when it will be in Belgium for qualifying rounds of Rio Olympics, ‘The News’ has learnt.
Sources in the management of national hockey said that chief coach Shahnaz Sheikh had received an email from US coach Chris Cledman who said they wanted to play with Pakistan hockey team when the Green-shirts would be in Europe to play a few international matches with European teams before the qualifying rounds, scheduled from June 20 to July 5.
Shahnaz confirmed that the Americans were desirous of playing an international match against Pakistan.
He said that he told the American hockey team’s coach that Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) was going to organise six matches with some European hockey teams before the qualifying rounds. He told the US coach that he could arrange international matches between the two sides.
Shahnaz further said that he had recommended to PHF to play an international match with the American team.
If the match is agreed upon, it will be the first ever hockey match between Pakistan and US.
The sources in the PHF said that despite facing financial crisis the administration was trying to organise maximum international matches for the Green-shirts before the qualifying rounds.
PHF is trying to organise matches with France, Austria and a few others. Meanwhile, after completion of the Hockey World League Round 2, FIH has announced that the men’s event features reigning world champions Australia lining up alongside Great Britain, hosts Belgium, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Ireland, France, Poland and China. Out of these 10, five will qualify for the Rio Olympics.