LAHORE, Dec 25: Three former and five current Pakistan players will take part in the Indian premier hockey league starting from Jan 13 to Feb 13 in Hyderabad.

Former Pakistan players, Ahmad Alam, Mohammad Sarwar and Ali Raza, who were axed by the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), saying the aging players were spent force, five current players, Mohammad Saqlain, Kashif Jawwad, Zeeshan Ashraf, Dilawar Hussain and Mudassir Ali Khan will feature in the Indian league.

The hosts will provide the players air travel, boarding and lodging apart from fee for playing in the league.

A PHF spokesman said permission was granted to the players after an official request from the Indian Hockey Federation.

India is launching the league for the first time with the permission of International Hockey Federation.

The PHF official said the federation was contemplating launching the league on the same pattern in the year 2006.