KARACHI, Dec 15 Asif Bajwa, Secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), said on Monday that the federation`s decision of not sending its senior team to India toplay in the four-nation tournament in Chandigarh and Jalandhar next month is not final.

“We are all for the uplift of Asian hockey and our participation in the Indian tournament featuring Germany and the Netherlands, besides the hosts, depends on India`s agreeing to play in Pakistan as well. It should all be bilateral,” said the former player, manager and coach.

He was speaking to Dawn while inspecting the new NBP Sports Complex here in Clifton along with Olympian Rana Mujahid and former Test cricketer Iqbal Qasim, on the eve of his departure to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he is to attend the day-long Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) Congress on Dec 20 and the coaching and umpiring workshops preceding the moot.

Bajwa, who would also be joined in Kuala Lumpur by PHF President Qasim Zia on the Dec 19, said they would be meeting Aslam Sher Khan of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) the second time in a month, as they met only recently at Los Angeles, US, during the International Hockey Federation (FIH) congress in November. “But a lot has happened during this while. This time we will be meeting after the Mumbai terror attacks,” said Bajwa.

The AHF Congress would also provide PHF`s secretary and president with another opportunity to rub shoulders with the other Asian hockey federation officials including those of China, Korea and Malaysia. “We want to persuade them to tour Pakistan just as we are willing to play in their countries. We want to show that it is safe to hold tournaments here [in Pakistan].

“We are also hopeful of being invited by Malaysia to play in their junior home series in February,” added Bajwa.

Among other things, the congress will also be announcing dates for the Asia Cup, which would serve as the qualifying event for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, a three-member delegation comprising international hockey umpire Rashad Mahmood Butt, coach Mohammad Akhlaq and Olympian Rana Mujahid were scheduled to leave for Kuala Lumpur on Monday night to attend the workshops on coaching and umpiring to be held there from Dec 17 to 19.

“We will be holding an FIH coaching and umpiring clinic in Lahore too on Dec 24 and attending the AHF workshops would help us further in getting acquainted with the FIH concepts that would pave the way for Pakistan`s being awarded world-level tournaments,” said Bajwa.

Although Rana, Rashad and Akhlaq would return soon after the conclusion of the workshops, Bajwa and Qasim are expected back on Dec 23.

Opinion

Editorial

A hasty retreat
Updated 28 Nov, 2024

A hasty retreat

Govt should not extend its campaign of violence against PTI and its leaders, thinking it now has the upper hand. Enough is enough.
Lebanon truce
28 Nov, 2024

Lebanon truce

WILL it hold? That is the question many in the Middle East and beyond will be asking after a 60-day ceasefire ...
MDR anomaly removed
28 Nov, 2024

MDR anomaly removed

THE State Bank’s decision to remove its minimum deposit rate requirement for conventional banks on deposits from...
Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...