Indo-Pak hockey officials to meet in Swiss Alps!

Afzal khan writes from Islamabad

Top hockey officials from Pakistan and India will meet on the sidelines of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Congress near the Swiss Alps next month to discuss the idea of reviving bilateral exchanges between the two nations, according to a senior official of the PHF.

Asif Bajwa, secretary PHF said that he will be meeting his Indian counterpart Narinder Batra in Montreux (Switzerland) to explore the possibility of holding a Pakistan-India test series as soon as possible. “We are all for reviving bilateral hockey series with India,” Bajwa said adding: “Such matches, if held on a regular basis, will benefit hockey in both the countries.”

Pakistan and India have exchanged bilateral tours in the past but sporting ties between the two nations have suffered because of an unofficial freeze following the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people. India blames Pakistan intelligence agencies and non-state actors of masterminding and executing the carnage.

In the last couple of years, Pakistan and India have played against each other on the hockey field but only in international tournaments run by the FIH or the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF). Even though hockey which was once a very popular sport in the sub-continent has lost its gloss, matches between Pakistan and India continue to draw huge crowds.

Earlier this month, a packed stadium witnessed an electrifying clash between the former Asian giants during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. Even the event’s final failed to produce a similar atmosphere.