PHF planning international event at home

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) plans to organise a four- or five-nation tournament in Pakistan to resume international action in the country, sources said.

PHF wants teams of Japan, Malaysia, Korea and Bangladesh to take part in the event.

Sources said that PHF wanted to organise this tournament before senior and junior Asian events as Pakistan players have been away from international competitions for a long time.

It was learnt that PHF president Brig (rtd) Khalid Khokhar has got the permission from the federal government to organise this international tournament in Pakistan and the federal government would provide all facilities to PHF including security arrangements and creation of a bio-secure bubble for the visiting hockey teams.

The PHF president and secretary Asif Bajwa are likely to meet in a couple of days to discuss domestic events and foreign tours.

Sources said that the PHF has planned a 5-a-side tournament in June and July as the federal government has softened the restrictions imposed because of coronavirus.

They said that 5-a-side tournaments were viable in the current situation because of the fewer number of competitors on the field.

It is pertinent to mention here that 5-a-side World Cup will be held in Oman in 2023 in which 16 teams will participate.

Sources said that the PHF president would also visit Sindh in coming days for the re-construction of Abdul Satter Edhi hockey stadium. The PHF president would meet Sindh chief minister Murad Ali Shah, as the Sindh government is providing financial help to PHF for this project. All modern facilities necessary for international contests would be included in the project, the sources said.

It may be recalled here that Pakistan slipped one place in the latest rankling released by the FIH, to 18th from 17th as Wales replaced Pakistan.

It is the lowest-ever ranking of Pakistan in its history. The sources said that due to Covid-19, Pakistan failed to play any international event, while Wales started playing.