-File photo

KARACHI: The postponement of Pakistan’s hockey series against India has come as a big blow for the ‘Greenshirts’ who have been desperately short of international fixtures following their 2010 Asian Games triumph, Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Associate Secretary Rana Mujahid said.

The news comes after Pakistan’s home and away series against Egypt was put off due to unrest in the North African country and has sent PHF officials scrambling to arrange a short-series against Malaysia or China before the coveted Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in May this year.

According to PHF, the three-match series between the arch-rivals, that was to be played in Dubai, has been delayed after a legal tussle between the India Hockey Federation and Hockey India over who will lead hockey in India.

The tough series against India would have been the ideal tonic for Pakistan who are yet to feature in top-level matches since the Asian Games in November.

“It is really disappointing especially after the postponement of the series against Egypt,” Mujahid told a local paper.

“Our team needs to play more against foreign teams but things are not going our way.”

The new development will top the agenda at PHF’s Executive Board meeting that will take place in Lahore on March 16.

“We are looking at other options to play a series against China, Malaysia or some other country before the Azlan Shah Cup,” he added.

“We will definitely discuss and prepare a plan for some alternate series in the board meeting on March 16.”