CHENNAI, Jan 9: Pakistan captain, Rehan Butt on Tuesday said the Pakistan-India hockey series is a pointless exercise which does not hold any interest or excitement for the sub-continent fans.

Turning out for a second successive year for Bangalore Lions in India’s Premier Hockey League (PHL), the 26-year-old veteran of 170 internationals candidly stated that the series had served no purpose whatsoever till now.

“At best, we can have a shorter series of two or three matches. We ought to play Germany, Holland and Spain a lot more than we do now.”

Praising the Chinese hockey team which recently stunned Pakistan at the Asian Games semifinals in Doha, Rehan said it was pretty clear that China had a long-term plan for the development of the game.

“They came to India and Pakistan and played the club teams. Then they turned out in the World Cup qualifiers where the Chinese coach said his team’s target was Asiad. And they achieved it by entering the final in Doha. This is the sort of dedication both India and Pakistan can learn from.”

Commenting on Asian teams’ obsession with the foreign coaches, Rehan said: “No foreigner can help a senior team in the sub-continent. We are all brought up in a certain way and will not change just because a foreign coach wants us to.

“Such coaches and physical trainers have to be asked to take care of Under-16 teams. They can provide us with a better structure. Only then can you produce positive results in 4-5 years and a team which can take on best in Europe.”

He said Premier Hockey League can improve sub-continental pattern of the game. “If Twenty20 can be a viable option in cricket, why not PHL? I am not in favour of time-outs but one-on-one can be a thrilling variety. The Third Umpire idea too is quite good.”

About central contracts for players, the Pakistan captain said this can help in keeping the local players from going off to play leagues and in finding other jobs abroad. “These days, players go abroad to make money. Contracts can put an end to it besides reining in players.”

“Imagine having a contract with a monthly pay of Rs 40,000 and a job. It is incentive enough for a player to stay back home,” Rehan said.— Agencies