LAHORE: The Interna­tional Hockey Federation (FIH) has resolved to help Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) by reviving the game in the country.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday along with FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather, Asian Hockey Federation CEO Tayyab Ikram, Pakistan Hockey Federation president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, FIH president Leandro Negre said the revival would begin by organization of bilateral series between Pakistan and Asian countries.

He added the matches cou­ld either be played on Pakis­tani soil or at neutral venues.

“Once the Asian countries will start playing bilateral series it will help Pakistan raise standard of the game and gradually the international hockey will also resume here.

“Moreover, the FIH will also work to promote the game at school and college level in Pakistan,” Leandro said.

The FIH president admitted that security had been a big issue which did not allow other teams to visit Pakistan in the past but after playing Asian countries and other smaller countries, strong teams would also start coming to Pakistan.

He said a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also very positive.

Leandro said past services of Pakistan in hockey were historical and it was a big stakeholder in the world of hockey.

Asked if the FIH had not come forward little late to help Pakistan as the country had failed to qualify for 2014 World Cup and 2016 Rio Olympics, the FIH president said such results had also forced the FIH to come out for PHF help.

He added that in the past the FIH had helped PHF to play Champions Trophy on wild card and it had also helped it on several other occasions.

“The FIH understands the importance of Pakistan hockey and it has come out with all sincerity to revive Pakistan hockey and we will also provide assistance to improve technical areas,” he said.

“Now the FIH and PHF have signed an agreement under which FIH will imp­rove the skills of Pakistani coaches and umpires, besides arranging series of both senior and junior teams with other countries,” he said.

Leandro said it had various memories about his previous visit to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, FIH CEO Fairweather said it was his first visit to Pakistan and he was quite happy, adding security was not the problem in Pakistan but it had become an international one.

Fairweather added that he would soon sit with PHF secretary Shahbaz Senior and head coach Tahir Zaman to finalise a detailed programme for helping out Pakistan hockey.

AHF CEO Tayyab, who belongs to Pakistan, said they wanted to help Pakistan because it had been a giant force in the past.

He added that their priority was to improve the standard of hockey in the country.

PHF president Khalid also thanked the FIH delegation for visiting Pakistan and assuring them help.

He said the FIH delegation had shown concern that the PHF had no technical official and it also lacked in umpiring.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2015