QUETTA, Sept 27: Former Indian double Olympian Aslam Sher Khan on Monday advocated holding World Cup on natural grass instead of synthetic turf to revive the sport in the sub-continent.

Pakistan and India must fight unitedly to bring the World Cup back on grass as it could revive the sport in this part of the world," Aslam Sher who represented India in 1972 Montreal and 1976 Munich Olympics, said on Monday.

"Hockey on grass suits our players because of environmental, climatic and economic reasons," the former Indian deep defender said. He said tropical, hot and dusty weather destroy these expensive artificial turfs within five years which is not economically viable.

Aslam, along with ex-Indian captain Ajit Pal Singh, B.P. Govinda and S.S. Sodhi are touring Pakistan as special guests for the Pakistan leg of series as a good gesture by the PHF.

"Pakistan and Indian federations should get united in this pursuit and press the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to revert World Cup on grass," he stressed. Responding to a question why it took him so long in coming up with the idea, he said nothing was late if it was positive and good for the sport.

Aslam, a member of 1975 World Cup winning Indian team and whose father Ahmer Sher Khan also represented undivided India in 1936 Olympics, said India and Pakistan must build a strong pressure on FIH to revert grass in World Cup.

"Both countries could go even to the extent of boycotting international events if FIH do not accept their demands," he asserted. "This is very important for the survival of our hockey because we have the natural inclination towards playing on grass," he added.

However, he said the other top tournaments such as Olympics and Champions Trophy should continue on artificial surface. He said the Europeans launched synthetic turf surface because it suited them because of climate and they can afford this expensive surface while India-Pakistan ill-afford this at all levels.

He said astroturf or poly grass surface were available in all hockey-playing European nations at school and club level. Aslam, who became national hero in 1975 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, when his famous goal three minutes from time helped India to draw level 2-2 with Malaysia and eventually beat them 3-2 in extra time to reach the final and edged out Pakistan 2-1 to win the tournament. -APP