Russian hockey club postpones tour to Pakistan

KARACHI: The tense law and order situation in the country has severely jolted the efforts for revival of sports activities in the country and the latest victim is hockey as Russian club Dinamo Ekaterinburg has postponed its tour, ‘The News’ learnt on Tuesday.

The Russian club was to play four matches against Pakistan junior team.

It was to play all its matches in Karachi at Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) in the first week of April.

The Russian club postponed its Pakistan tour after the blast at a park in Lahore which killed at least 74 and injured more than 300.

The PHF had already canceled the three-match series between the national senior and junior teams, which was to be played in different cities in Punjab, after the blast.

The PHF sources confirmed that the Russian club had postponed its tour due to security concerns.

Hanif yet to join training camp: The PHF high-ups have failed to resolve the crisis of national senior hockey team as its manager Olympian Hanif Khan has not yet joined the training camp in Lahore although the team has to leave on April 2 for Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey tournament.

Sources said Hanif is annoyed at the selection of the team.

PHF officials said Hanif was away from the camp owing to some personal reasons and would join the camp before the team’s departure.

‘The News’ made several phone calls to Hanif but he did not answer.

The PHF officials confirmed that Hanif had some differences over the selection process, “but he did not leave the training camp because of that”.

Hanif’s nephew Haseem Khan, who is a seasoned forward and considered one of the best players in the country, has not been selected for Malaysia tour.