“We want to play hockey because it is direly needed in this part of the world. Hockey contests between India and Pakistan will strengthen the base of hockey besides further popularising the sport.” -Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Indian hockey federations are discussing modalities for playing bilateral series in both countries this year and are looking for a window for the said contests, Dawn learnt on Saturday.

“We are in discussions with our counterparts since the resumption of talks between Pakistan and India...we hope to play a series with India any time this year,” secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa told Dawn .

Both Pakistan and India have not played against each other in hockey (in India or Pakistan) for the last two years after the November 2008 terror attack on Mumbai which led to dip in relations between the nuclear-armed countries.

“Our discussions with India started after Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani made a successful visit to India recently,” Bajwa said.

Last month, Gilani went to India on the invitation of his counterpart Manmohan Singh, to witness the cricket World Cup semi-final between Pakistan and India in Mohali.

“We want to play hockey because it is direly needed in this part of the world. Hockey contests between India and Pakistan will strengthen the base of hockey besides further popularising the sport,” claimed former Olympian Bajwa.

The PHF secretary said Pakistan team had a very busy international schedule this year, adding “in case they find a suitable window during the next six months they would definitely like to play against India.”

The greenshirts would be seen in action against the arch-rivals on both sides of the border between India and Pakistan, the PHF official stated.

“Pakistan will be playing in India and India will be playing in Pakistan; this is the focus of our discussions with the Indian hockey officials, mainly to give good sports entertainment to fans on both sides of the border,” he said.

Commenting on the financial benefit attached with the Pakistan-India series, the PHF secretary said: “There are better financial prospects attached with this initiative because competitions between Pakistan and India are always thrilling.”