ISLAMABAD, June 7: India may be invited to participate in an international tournament in Lahore this December, secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Brig Musarratullah Khan said on Saturday.

“We had been asked by the Ministry what would be the appropriate time for a resumption of Pakistan-India hockey series and we told them that the first opportunity would be to invite them over to Lahore for the tournament,” Musarrat told Dawn.

Although he said that the matter of inviting India was at a very preliminary stage and the PHF has had no role to play as yet in this regard he hoped that if everything worked out, the tournament would gain added attraction.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation plans to hold what it says would be a nine-nation tournament at the National Stadium. But with world champions Germany and Holland having regretted, it is not sure how many countries would eventually make it to Lahore.

Malaysia, Korea and England are all keen to attend but confirmation from other countries could come during the forthcoming meeting of the Asian Hockey Federation in Busan later this month.

Egypt and China are also on the list of PHF invitees for the tournament which will be the first international hockey competition in Pakistan since the events of Sept 11 led to the shifting of the Champions Trophy from Lahore to Rotterdam.

Meanwhile Pakistan and India continue to play on neutral soils, their latest clash producing a 4-4 draw in a three-nation tournament in Sydney on Saturday. Both sides have however, not played a bilateral series in each other’s country for some years now.

The recent confidence building measures taken by Prime Ministers of both Pakistan and India have however increased hopes of a revival of sporting ties.

APP adds from Karachi:

Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) will take action against penalty corner striker Sohail Abbas and half-back Waseem Ahmad after giving them a hearing.

Both the players have gone to Germany to play in league without the permission of the PHF.

PHF secretary Brig Musarrat Ullah Khan (retd) said on Saturday PHF was also considering action against players’ department Wapda for giving them ex-Pakistan leave and issuing No Objection Certificates.

“We will listen to the players. We will see their attitude after the mistake they did by playing without PHF’s permission before taking a final decision,” the secretary said.

He said Wapda responded to PHF letter in April regarding Pakistan’s training tour of Australia and was asked to send Sohail and Waseem for the national camp.

However he said Wapda issued the players NOCs for German league after inter-departmental contest which concluded on April 26.

The official said he was fully aware Sohail and Waseem were two important members of the national team and every aspect will be taken into consideration before any action.

He also hinted that fine may be imposed on Sohail and Waseem for their offence.

He also confirmed that Wapda had alleged Pakistan former coach and current manager Shahnaz Shaikh instigated Sohail to play in league in Germany.

He said PHF would look into these charges to determine whether the players had left for Germany to play league with the consent or on the instigation of Shahnaz.

The secretary expressed surprise why Sohail had gone to play in league in Germany for just 2000 euros which was equivalent to Rs140,000.

He said if Sohail could make eight lacs at home after getting cash awards from the President, quarter of a million rupees from Wapda for Azlan Shah Cup triumph, promotion to grade-18 from 17 and a brand new car, why he did not approach him before leaving.

He said action against former captain Mohammad Nadeem was taken after giving him a chance to give his version and added Nadeem might have informed Shahnaz about his plans before leaving for Germany.

But he said according to the rules, Nadeem should have taken permission from PHF before going to play in league.