LAHORE, Jan 20 (APP):Lahore-5
A number of former Pakistan hockey captains
have termed the World Hockey XI tour to Pakistan a defining moment in Pakistan hockey for bringing back international hockey to the country
in due course of time.
Former captains, Islah ud din, Shahnaz Sheikh, Hasan Sadar, Nasir
Ali, Dr Atif Bashir, Muhammad Usman, Rehan Butt and Muhammad Saqlain
told APP here on Saturday that they are very delighted that World XI
has played its first match at Karachi and now it will be playing the
second and last match tomorrow, Sunday at Lahore.
“These are history making moments that World XI is on a visit of Pakistan and definately it is going to contribute in the return of international hockey in the country”, they said adding “We are happy
that our new generation is watching the worlds best players in action
in Their own playing fields and these are very special moments for our national hockey”.
They urged the PHF to continue its efforts for inviting other
foreign teams to visit Pakistan to play test hockey series in different parts of the country.
The group of former Olympians said it is not possible to see the resumption of international hockey in Pakistan in short span of time
as it will take time and efforts.
“The World XI tour will follow the launch of our hockey league
and with the successful holding of these two event we can prove the
world that we are capable of holding big hockey events in a successful manner”, they asserted.
They said the tour of the world IX will have a greater impact
on our national hockey and help in chalking out a future plan to re-organise our hockey in a way to have the foreign teams visiting
Pakistan in future.
“The task is not easy, it will be quite challenging as we have
to take confidence building measures to persuade the foreign teams to consider visiting Pakistan”,they said.
The former Olympians were of the view that the holding of World
XI tour successfully and then staging PHL in different parts of the
country will restore the confidence of participating players and their respective hockey federations on Pakistan and by that way they will be considering re-visiting Pakistan in near future.
“The World XI tour and start of hockey league will greatly support
the cause of revival of international hockey in Pakistan”, they said
adding “When the players of the World XI will return to their
respective countries they will be narrating the stories of their
stay in Pakistan ,portraying a fair and clear picture of the circumstances that Pakistan is a safe country for playing international hockey and
it (country) deserves that international hockey events should be played there”.