04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

NEW DELHI, Sept 3 I: India's Bangalore city would miss out on hosting a hockey Test between arch rivals India and Pakistan after Indian Hockey Federation decided to give a match of upcoming series To Amritsar.

IHF said Amritsar would be hosting third match of Indian leg on Oct 8 as Bangalore did not have a proper astroturf. "Moreover, there was a lot of demand in Punjab to host the match in Amritsar where game has a mass following. Punjab Hockey Association also wanted the match to be held there," IHF media advisor Anupam Ghulati said.

He said with Amritsar hosting third match, last Test would now be held in Hyderabad on Oct 10. The first two Tests would be held as per schedule on Oct four at Delhi and Oct six at Chandigarh.

An 18-member Indian team would be announced shortly to tour Pakistan for first-leg which begins in Karachi on Sept 25. India last played Pakistan in a bilateral series in 1999, hosting them for four matches before playing five in an away series that was won comprehensively by Pakistan.

ITINERARY:

PAKISTAN LEG: Karachi (Sept 25), Quetta (Sept 27), Peshawar (Sept 29), Lahore (Oct 1).

INDIAN LEG: New Delhi (Oct 4), Chandigarh (Oct 6), Amritsar (Oct 8) Hyderabad (Oct 10). -PPI