Approvals from home and external affairs ministries awaited, reciprocal series scheduled from April 23.
The sports ministry, on Monday, gave clearance to the Pakistan hockey team’s tour of India after a gap of nearly seven years. This will be the first time that an Indo-Pakistan bilateral series will be played after the 2008 terror strikes in Mumbai. The last time both teams play a bilateral series was in 2006.
“This is good news for hockey fans across the border. But there are still clearances to be got from the ministries of home and external affairs,” Hockey India secretary general NK Batra told DNA on Monday.
Batra stated that the proposal was made a few months back to the sports ministry but the clearance has come only after slight alteration in the tour itinerary. The Pakistan team is scheduled to play five matches in Ranchi, Lucknow, Delhi, Mohali and Jalandhar while on the reciprocal visit, India will play in Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi and Sialkot from April 23.
“We hope to get all the necessary clearances soon. It will certainly help build further goodwill between the two countries,” said Batra, adding, “More than anything else, it will be an opportunity for players from both sides to improve their skills by playing in front of such enthusiastic crowds.”
The officials of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Hockey India (HI) have been trying to resume this bilateral series for the last one year. In fact, many of the Pakistan national players have been participating in various tournaments in India over the last couple of years.
“India will be playing in the Azlan Shah hockey tournament along with Pakistan. But playing at home or in Pakistan is certainly a completely different experience for all the players. The pressure and excitement is certainly at a different peak when these two countries play each other,” said Batra.
Pakistan finished a poor seventh at the London Olympics last year whereas India ended at the bottom in 12th place. Pakistan won the last bilateral hockey series in 2006, winning three. India won one and two matches ended in a draw.
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