Bangalore: Madikeri may host one of the six test matches of the India-Pakistan hockey series if the Karnataka State Hockey Association’s (KSHA) proposal gets the approval of the Indian Olympic Association’s ad hoc committee.
The match, if it materialises, will not merely be an attempt by the KSHA to bring top-class action to the state but will also be a way of making it up to the Coorg Hockey Association (CHA). Madikeri was deprived of Super Division action after the Sports Authority of India (SAI) refused to part with its infrastructure as it had not been cleared by experts designated by the international body (FIH).
“We have broached the subject with the ad-hoc committee. We hope to get a positive answer soon. As for the artificial pitch, SAI director Shyam Sundar has assured us that he would talk to the officials concerned to speed up the process,” KSHA secretary K Krishnamurthy told TOI.
Earlier this month, both the sub-continental giants decided to revive the bilateral test series.
As per the agreement, India’s junior team would visit Pakistan in November for five tests while their senior team would be India for a six-match series in December.