KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation is keen to organise a ‘Test’ series with arch rivals India in the United Arab Emirates before next year’s World Cup in New Delhi.

The President of PHF, former Olympian Qasim Zia said he had asked International Hockey Federation President Leonardo Negro to speak to Indian hockey officials about the series.

“We have already confirmed our team’s participation in a challenge cup in Argentina next month and we are also trying to arrange a test series with India at venues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he said.

“It will also benefit the Indian team and help them gear up for the World Cup which they are hosting,” he said.

Pakistan won the qualifying tournament in Lille, France, yesterday after beating Japan in the final to secure one of the berths in the World Cup.

The players and team officials were given a warm welcome on their return home to Lahore and Karachi this morning.

But PHF secretary Asif Bajwa cautioned that their should not be too much expectations from the team in the World Cup.

“It is a sad fact that we are no longer among the top five or six hockey nations in the world and that is why realistically we are working towards building a winning team for the next Asian Games in 2010 in China,” he said.

“The good thing is that the World Cup in India provides us an opportunity to do well and revive subcontinental hockey to its past glory,” he added.