China to take on Pakistan in 4-match hockey series
KARACHI: China will play a four-match hockey series in Pakistan this month as the country’s bid to host international sports events get new lifeline, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said Monday.
International sports activities came to a halt in Pakistan following a terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in March, 2009 after which foreign teams refused to tour the terror-hit country.
In a bid to revive international sports activities in Pakistan, PHF Secretary, Asif Bajwa said the series has a huge significance. He stated, “It will help in resuming international hockey ties on Pakistani soil and we are eagerly looking forward to it”.
For any foreign team touring Pakistan, the major concern is security and the PHF official said that the Federation had requested government for foolproof security for the guest team.
The first of the four-match series will be played in Karachi on December 21, followed by another one on the same venue on December 22, then in Faisalabad on December 24 before the tour finale in Lahore on December 25.
Asif Bajwa said, “Our major focus is to bring international hockey back to Pakistan and we are thankful to the Chinese Hockey Federation for supporting our cause, and this will be on a reciprocal basis as we will tour them next year”.
Pakistan has had a great history in the sport of hockey, which is also its national sport. The Green Sticks have won three Olympic crowns as well as four World Cup titles but in recent part the performance of the national team has been indifferent as they have only managed to win the Asian Games title in 2010.
This year, Pakistan have won a four-nation hockey tournament in Australia but failed to follow it up with champion performance in the recently concluded Champions Trophy Hockey Tournament where they finished seventh.
Under the Exchange of Visit Programme, the Chinese Hockey Team will visit Pakistan from 19th to 26th December 2011 and play 4-Test Match Series against Pakistan Hockey Team according to following schedule:-
21st Dec: 1st Test Match - HCP Stadium Karachi
22nd Dec: 2nd Test Match – HCP Stadium Karachi
24th Dec: 3rd Test Match – Faisalabad Hockey Stadium
25th Dec: 4th Test Match – National Hockey Stadium Lahore.
Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Hon’ble Chief Minister Punjab has very kindly consented to be the Chief Guest on the Final match of the Series to be played at National Hockey Stadium, Lahore on 25th December 2011 at 1430 hours.
Pakistan Hockey Team
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