ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will start indoor hockey in the country from next year to provide an opportunity to its players to get practice during the off-season, PHF President, Qasim Zia said.

“We have a plan to introduce indoor hockey after the 2012 London Olympics. Hard surface courts can be arranged and that is the starting point for deciding on indoor hockey,” Zia told journalists at a ceremony organized by Rawalpindi Islamabad Sports Journalists Association (RISJA) in honour of its new council members.

Zia hoped indoor hockey could help in promoting the game in a country where Twenty20 cricket had become most popular.

On Pakistan recent performances, he said that the game was on the right track and it would soon reclaim its lost status.

“We have set certain goals and the time is not far when Pakistan will be again among the world’s best sides.”

According to Zia, a good pool of players had been created with the London Olympics around the corner and that Pakistan will try its best to win the event.

To a question about the inclusion of senior players in the team for Olympics, he said that it was part of federation's policy to provide ample opportunities to all players to become part of the national team.

“Irrespective of their age, if they (players) maintain required level of fitness to compete at the international level, they will not be dropped from the team,” he added.

“A number of young players were selected in squad for the inaugural Asian Champions Trophy to provide them exposure and experience at the international level as they are the country's future.”

He said Sohail Abbas was included in the squad keeping in view his specialty in penalty corners but added that the player needed to improve his conversion rate in big matches.

Commenting on Pakistan’s style of play, Zia said that Pakistan had never adopted a ‘European style’ but rather just changed its game according to the need of the time.