ISLAMABAD: A World XI team will tour Pakistan from Jan 10 next year as a first step towards revival of international hockey in the country, president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar has announced.

Khokhar told a media conference here that the government has given clearance for the World XI tour, which also has the support of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

“The situation is gradually changing and we are confident that after the World XI tours Pakistan, it will also pave the way open for foreign players to take part in our hockey league that we plan to launch sometime in 2018,” the PHF president said.

Without revealing details about the composition of the World XI or where they would play matches, Khokhar said the PHF was now on the lookout for sponsors and to sell broadcasting rights of the matches.

He said that India has become a high-profile hockey nation after hosting several FIH events while, in comparison, Pakistan had been deprived of international events at home because of security concerns.

“A lot of critics talk about Indian hockey but they forget that a lot of money has been channelled into Indian hockey in recent years by private and state sponsors and the Indian hockey league has been a big boost for them,” Khokhar said.

He further said that the PHF had already done its homework to ensure the national senior team got visas to participate in the 2018 World Cup in India.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2017