KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is planning to host the country for a bilateral Test series against India, and has received the government’s clearance in this regard even though the dates are yet to be finalised.

“The government has given us clearance for the series [against Induia] and also agreed to provide funds for the series,” PHF president Akhtar Rasool said.

The PHF has planned a home-and-away bilateral series against India this year and Akhtar said he was now awaiting a response from the Indian authorities.

“We are keen to have this series with India this year but now we are waiting to see the response from the Indian hockey federation as they also have to get clearance for the series,” he added.

Once dominant teams in the international hockey arena, Pakistan and India are struggling to remain among the top nations. Pakistan even failed to qualify for this year’s World Cup, a new low for the sport in the country.

The PHF chief said it was necessary to bring more funds into the sport in Pakistan and also revive people’s interest in hockey.

“That is why we see this planned series with India as very important. We are happy that our government is supporting us because. If this series goes through it will serve both purposes for us,” he said.

The former Olympian said he was confident that with the formation of a new government in India some ice will melt between the two countries allowing for the hockey ties to be revived this year.

“If this happens it will benefit both teams,” Akhtar stated.

Meanwhile, on one hand the PHF is trying its best to restart bilateral series with India this year, on the other, Hockey India is hardly optimistic about the timing and reckons it would be better to hold the series between the two countries in 2015.

“We will try our best to organise the series this year but it’s doubtful,” a top HI official was quoted as saying. “I feel whatever happens will happen next year, as the new government needs time to settle down before taking such important decisions.”

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2014