PHF seeks live telecast of World Cup qualifiers

KARACHI: Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has contacted the federal government for live telecast of World Cup qualifiers by the state-owned television channel, The News has learnt.

Pakistan will begin their journey for World Cup qualification from June 15 with their match against the Netherlands.

The qualifiers will run from June 15 to 23.

Pakistan will play against archrivals India on June 18 and all sports lovers and hockey fraternity desperately want to see this sensational match.

PHF president Brig (rtd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Shahbaz Ahmed said that PHF was making efforts to strengthen the national game. The PHF wanted that hockey lovers see these World Cup qualifiers, which would help spread the game in the country once again, he said.

They said the match against India would be one of the most interesting games and people of both countries would watch it with enthusiasm.

Pakistan cricket team is also in England these days, playing in the Champions Trophy and all its matches are being live telecast.

Shahbaz said that Pakistan hockey team was playing well and improving. “The defeats against Ireland do not mean that the Green-shirts are weak. The host country played 33 boys, so they were fresh. And Pakistanis had just gone from the hot and humid weather here,” he said.

He said that Pakistan’s first aim was to get the players acclimatised with the weather and help them get international match experience before the qualifiers.

It is pertinent to mention here that Ireland are ranked ninth and Pakistan 14th. 

“The shortcomings identified in those matches gave us some lessons which will help us in the qualifying rounds,” Shahbaz said.

“We sent the national hockey team to England 15 days before the qualifiers because playing in the West is totally a different thing. Players take some time to acclimatise with the English conditions,” he said.  Shahbaz said that players know that this time it is do-or-die to qualify for the World Cup.