ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: Chaudhry Muhammad Yaqub, chairman of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) feels that the live telecast of an international tournament in Islamabad next month by Ten Sports will give the sport quite a boost.

"It will be the first instance that a tournament being hosted in Pakistan will be shown on an international television channel and it is certainly going to help the sport in the long run," he told Dawn on Tuesday.

The PVF is to organise the tournament between Feb 26 and March 3 at the Liaquat Gymnasium and invitations have been sent out to six countries including India. The Indians, who wanted to send a young team instead of a full strength senior squad have been told they cannot do so while an Iranian request for a change of competition dates has also been turned down by the organisers.

The teams that are now likely to take part are Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Kazakhstan along with two home teams. "We are having communication difficulties with Kazakhstan but I hope that they will be able to make it to Islamabad," Yaqub said while pointing out that even if there were three foreign teams or four, Pakistan will field two strings in the championship.

"We want to give exposure to our boys and this event should be a good opportunity for them to learn and do well all the same." Yaqub said that the dates for the convenience of Iran, who would be busy with their super league during that period could not be changed.

"We might have shown flexibility in this regard but because of the televising plans, this could not be done." Dubai-based channels are now focussing keenly on volleyball in the subcontinent especially matches involving Pakistan and India.