KARACHI: An exhibition hockey match between Commissioner Karachi XI and President KHA XI will mark the revival of activities at the YMCA ground on Friday at 4:00pm.

The match is being played at the premises after 16 years as the ground was encroached upon in 2003 and used for holding marriages.

This has been necessitated after Supreme Court verdict to clear the premises of commercial activities recently.

In compliance of apex court orders the Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani paid a visit to the YMCA and Sir Abdullah Haroon Muslim Gymkhana last week and directed both the managements to halt the marriages and vacate the fields.

A delegation of the Karachi Hockey Association (KHA) that also includes founding hockey coach of the YMCA Shabib Abbas had called on the commissioner in his office and apprised him about the role the institution had played in nurturing the talent who brought laurels to the country.

The commissioner was informed that under Abbas YMCA remained as hub of hockey activities and produced a large number of Olympians and internationals.

Meanwhile, the levelling of ground was underway under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner South Syed Salahuddin Ahmed, KHA secretary Haider Hussain and other officials when this reporter visited the YMCA Thursday evening.

The goalposts have been erected besides outline around the playing field for the Friday’s match.

Those running the marriage lawns are busy to remove their belongings at the earliest.

Once cleared, it will require heavy investment to restart full-fledged hockey, track and field and other activities and re-emerge as one of the prominent sports centre of the city in future.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2019