India, Pakistan talk hockey again

NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan are talking hockey again. They had been doing it at regular intervals in the past too but the only difference is that this time the talks have centred around matches on either side of the border.

Dubai as the neutral venue is no longer in the picture as Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation explored the possibility of playing bilateral games in India a few days ago.

The talks got a boost from the Union sports ministry which said that ‘prima facie’ there would be no issues in clearing the tour – both in India and in Pakistan. But then, clearances from ministries of home and external affairs would be central to get the series going.

“Security and political clearances are a must. Once they are obtained, we don’t see any reason why the series cannot go on,” ministry sources told TOI.

HI secretary general Narinder Batra confirmed that he has been in touch with Asif Bajwa, his counterpart in PHF. “We have been discussing this point for many months now. This time, we were discussing the idea of holding the series in the two countries, particularly after the meeting in Mohali between the two prime ministers and the news that there may be an India cricket tour of Pakistan,” Batra said.

He was referring to the India visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who watched the India-Pakistan World Cup semifinal match in Mohali on the invitation of Manmohan Singh.

In Karachi, Bajwa was quoted as saying that the Indian hockey team may tour that country ahead of the men’s Champions Trophy, scheduled in India in November. Pakistan team may also visit India for a series, he added.