NEW DELHI, June 15: India and Pakistan will play eight home-and-away hockey Tests later this year after a five-year freeze following political tensions between the neighbouring nations.

The matches will be played between Sept 25 and Oct 10, K.P.S. Gill, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president, told reporters on Tuesday. "The last series in 1999 gave a tremendous boost to sub-continent hockey.

It also gave an opportunity for our boys to play under pressure," he said. Hockey is the second most popular game after cricket in both countries. India have won eight Olympic titles and Pakistan three.

Sporting ties between India and Pakistan have been suspended since 2000 but relations have improved since last year. The Indian cricket team made their first full tour of Pakistan in 14 years in March and April.

Match itinerary:

Sept 25 - Karachi

Sept 27 - Quetta

Sept 29 - Peshawar

Oct 1 - Lahore

Oct 4 - New Delhi

Oct 6 - Chandigarh

Oct 8 - Hyderabad

Oct 10 - Bangalore. -Reuters