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LAHORE: Chances of the Indian hockey team’s visit to Pakistan for a three-nation tournament next month have become quite bright after Sports Authority of India (Teams Division) gave permission to the 26-member squad for the purpose and sent the list of the squad to the Ministry of External Affairs for final clearance.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has proposed a four-nation tournament in Lahore from April 7-14 as part of its national team preparations for the London Olympics.
Though the PHF has also invited South Africa for the event, the responses from India and Malaysia have so far been positive.
The current development regarding the Indian team’s visit is encouraging for the PHF which has been desperately looking to arrange some international matches for Pakistan squad ahead of the Olympics.
If the tournament gets successfully staged in April, it will be a big boost for the PHF as it will not only provide good preparation for the Pakistan team, it will also restore the confidence of the foreign teams to tour Pakistan without any fear of security.
Soon after this tournament, the national team will compete in the traditional Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in May and play some warm-up matches in London before entering the Olympics.
“The three-nation tournament is also important for the Indian team to prepare itself for the London Olympics, as they have also qualified for it, and to get some international matches before the Olympics, Hockey India is also searching some windows of international matches,” a PHF official told Dawn.
“We are quite hopeful for the tour of Indian team to Pakistan in April and top-level security arrangements will be made to hold the event successfully,” the official said.
Pakistan qualified for the London Olympics after winning the gold medal in the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China.
Hockey India has picked an 18-member squad for the Pakistan tour besides two coaches and six support staff.
Squad: P.T Rao, Nanak Singh, Rupinderpal Singh, Harbir Singh, Amit Rohidas, Gurbaj Singh, Manpreer Singh, Kothajit Sing Khadangbam, Gurmail Singh, M.B Aiyappa, S.K. Uthappa, Dharmveer Singh, Nithin Thimmaiah, Chinglinsana Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Pradhan Somanna, P.J Thimmanna, M.G Pooncha.
Coaches: N Mohammad Riaz, BJ Kariappa.
Support staff: doctor: Umesh Thuraganur Nanju; physio: Gagan Bihari Sethi; video analyst: N Harishankar; umpire: Ripudaman Sharma; administrative manager: Anupam Ghulati; manager: Rajeev Mehta.
