ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) on Friday said players from as many as 30 countries are likely to participate in the inaugural edition of the country’s franchise-based professional league, to be staged in November this year.

Talking to media personnel, PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior said most players in the league, named Pakistan Hockey League (PHL) will be from countries including Argentina, Germany and Australia. “The event will most likely be staged in Lahore, Faisalabad and Gojra,” he said. “We just need permission from the Punjab government and for that we have written a letter to them.”

He said the PHF is making all-out efforts to hold the first league before the end of this year. “For that purpose, we are making contact with the players of different hockey playing nations,” said Shahbaz.

“Besides providing financial support to us, the league will prove a landmark in regaining the lost glory of the national game in Pakistan.

“Since Pakistan have not been performing well in the international arena, the PHL would be instrumental in boosting our players’ confidence and skills as they will be rubbing shoulders with top foreign players.”

He said that there would be at least five to six teams of different cities and all would include foreign players.

“We are optimistic about luring in a reasonable number of international players for the league,” Shahbaz said, adding that the owners of the franchises would themselves decide the names of their teams.

Responding to a question, Shahbaz said Indian players would not be invited for the league.

“Currently, the PHF is working on the U-18 players in order to groom them for the future,” said Shahbaz. “U-18 players would be sent to participate in two international tournaments annually.”

He said a seniors’ training camp will also be set up from Sept 1 to prepare them for the Asian Champions Trophy. “However, the venue to conduct the camp has not been finalised yet,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2016