Indian hockey team may play in Pakistan

BANGALORE: The Indian hockey team’s proposal to tour Pakistan in April is being studied by sports minister Ajay Maken after it gained the in-principle acceptance of the steering committee, it is learnt.

The committee had given its approval to India’s participation in the four-nation tournament on Monday when it met to finalize the plans for the national camp in Bangalore.

The meeting was told that HI proposed to send its development team and not its Olympic certainties as it treated the tournament as an exposure trip. According to Pakistan Hockey Federation, Malaysia is one of the teams in the tournament while efforts are under way to convince South Africa to complete the line-up.

Chief coach Michael Nobbs confirmed the development and pointed out that the senior team would end up playing too many matches if it figured in the Pakistan event. “The tournament may come in the way of the senior team’s training programme as the boys will reach Bangalore only by mid-March,” he told TOI.

This is also one of the reasons why the development team was asked to assemble early, Nobbs said. “A couple of players who figured in the Olympic qualifiers squad may go to Pakistan, particularly those who haven’t played many international matches. But overall, it would be the development team,” he added.

In all probability, Nobbs may prefer his assistant coach Mohd Riaz to take independent charge of the team during the Pakistan tour. “That would be a good way to train the coaches too. Give them the leeway and see how they perform. I feel Riaz deserves an opportunity,” he said.

The Indian hockey team hasn’t been to Pakistan in six years with the last tour being the India-Pakistan series in 2006. There were plans for a tour in 2008 but that was shelved after the government denied permission. The cricket tour to Pakistan too was scrapped for the same reason.