Kazakhstan hockey team likely to visit Pakistan this month

KARACHI: Kazakhstan has intimated Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) that it wanted to send its team in April, ‘The News’ has learnt.

Informed sources said that Kazakhstan Hockey Federation sent a communiqué to PHF, saying it wanted to play five matches with Pakistan in April. PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed, when contacted, confirmed that Kazakhstan wanted to visit Pakistan this month. "We are considering how their visit can be managed in April when national championship is to be played," he said.

On a question about the future of Pakistan Hockey League, Shahbaz said that PHF wanted to organise the League with full fervor and dedication so that it could become a high standard professional league. "But for that purpose we need funds and right now we are passing through a financial crisis. It would take some time in organising the professional league in a successful manner," he said.

Meanwhile, an inter-division tournament would be organised in Gojra from April 10-15 after which four development squads would be selected for participation in the national championship commencing from April 20 in Karachi at Dr Muhammad Ali Shah-Islahuddin Academy.

Sources said that provincial associations would play a leading role in the selection and other affairs of development squads as mostly those provincial players who have not been picked by departments would be part of these squads.

However, the preparation for national championship is going at a slow place. PHF officials said that preparation looked slow because the Edhi stadium was going to be used for the World Soccer Stars match on April 27.

The national championship matches from April 20 to 27 will be held at Dr Muhammad Ali Shah-Islahuddin Academy. The rest of the matches would be played at Edhi Stadium after April 27.