PHF seeking matches against England, Ireland

Karachi: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is trying to arrange some more international matches for the senior team before their participation in World Cup qualifying rounds in London in June this year.

The target destinations are England and Ireland, ‘The News’ learnt on Thursday.

Informed sources said that PHF has contacted Ireland authorities and England officials for matches before the qualifying rounds.

The sources said that Pakistan are likely to visit Ireland in May to play three test matches with Irish team.

PHF also desires two or three test matches with England.

Pakistan are in Australia these days, where the Green-shirts have lost the first two of their four matches against the hosts.

They defeated New Zealand 2-1 in their five-test series before the tour to Australia.

Pakistan failed to qualify for the World Cup 2014 and 2016 Rio Olympics.

The Green-shirts are now striving to qualify for the World Cup 2018. Its qualifying rounds will be played in June in London.

Pakistan hockey team had been in isolation before the tour of New Zealand and Australia. The tour to both these countries is part of the team’s rebuilding process.

Pakistan faced a severe blow when they were excluded from the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, which is to be held in April, a tournament in which Pakistan’s participation was always considered permanent. Pakistan won this event a number of times.

The Indian government did not issue visas to Pakistan junior team for participation in the Junior World Cup in December 2016.

PHF sources said that they are observing all conspiracies being hatched against Pakistan and will respond though performances.

They said that the plan to hold Pakistan hockey league was intact and work was going on in that direction.

The junior hockey team will go to Australia to participate in their national junior championship in the second week of April. The members of the team will stay in Australia for three to four months and participate in the Australian league hockey as well.

This will be the first time that our national junior hockey team will play in Australia’s domestic tournament.