Indian Hockey Federation expresses its regret

LAHORE,Nov 17 (APP)- Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) through a letter to Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has expressed its regrets that their U21 team could not come to play a test series for reasons beyond their control and urged to continue bilateral hockey ties. “ We have officially received a letter from the ad-hoc committee of IHF in which it expressed its regrets regarding cancellation of its junior team’s tour to Pakistan”, Secretary,PHF, Muhammad Asif Bajwa told APP here on Monday.

Indian team was to tour Pakistan from November 10 to play a five test series against Pak Junior at various centres and it could not come to Pakistan when it was refused clearance by the Indian authorities at the last minute when PHF officials had reached Wagha Border to receive it.

In the letter ,Convenor of the IHF Ad-hoc committee, Muhammad Aslam Khan wrote “ However,We would like to express, once again, our fullest cooperation in having bilateral ties between the two countries in future”.

“ We will be seeing you (PHF officials) at FIH Congress at Los Angles later this month to find ways and means to explore possibilities for having regular hockey ties “,he stated in the letter.

When contacted ,Secretary,PHF,Asif Bajwa welcomed the gesture of the IHF and said it will be good for the cause of hockey to have hockey ties between the two countries on regular basis.

“ We firmly believe that PHF and IHF must have a close interaction in the field of hockey to address a common cause of development of the game in the sub-continent “,he said.

Bajwa said Pakistan and India are the two former champions who have struggling to revive the game and collective efforts and frequent exchange of visits between the two countries can help in safeguarding the future of the game in the region.

He disclosed that PHF will be taking up the matter of cancellation of Indian hockey team’s tour to Pakistan at the congress of Games ruling Body,FIH, to find a solution of the problem.

“ Obviously it was not good to have cancelled a series at a point when all was set to stage it as we spent a lot of money on various stadiums and preparations and there should be a solution to this problem if such a situation arises in future and we are confident that FIH will take steps to avert such happenings in future “,he said.