KARACHI, 6 July — Pakistan on Wednesday expressed surprise over India’s rejection of a hockey series between the two neighbours in Dubai next year, saying that the idea to stage such a competition actually came from the Indian side.

“It is very surprising for us to hear that the Indians are now against the series in Dubai,” said Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Brigadier Musarratullah Khan in an interview with Arab News from Lahore. “The series was actually finalized on the insistence of the Indian officials and now they themselves are backing out.” Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) President KPS Gill in a statement on Tuesday from New Delhi rejected an invitation to play a hockey series next February in Dubai saying that India did not want to play Pakistan on a neutral venue.

— Gill added that if Pakistan and India can play each other in either country then why should they go and compete on a neutral venue.

— It was indeed an unexpected move from the IHF boss who was one of the key figures behind the idea of initiating a Pakistan-India hockey series in the Gulf. The series was to be organised by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Hockey Committee and the Cricketers’ Benefit Fund Series (CBFS).

— Pakistan and India were both guaranteed handsome appearance money by the organisers of the series that was first scheduled for April this year but was postponed after organisers failed to come out with the required facilities for the holding of the competition.

— The idea to hold a Pakistan-India competition at a neutral venue came up for discussion during the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney after a move to resume a home-and-away series fizzled out because of political tension between the two neighbours.

— Later, however, the were otherwise quite cordial relations between the PHF and IHF officials were strained after Pakistan turned down an Indian request to change the dates of this November’s Champions Trophy in Lahore so that their team could travel to New Delhi for the Afro-Asian Games to be staged during the same period. The PHF said it was too late for such a move.

— There have been reports from the other side of the border that the Champions Trophy issue will be raised by Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he meets President General Pervez Musharraf in a summit in New Delhi later this month.

— Hockey circles believe a positive decision at the summit will certainly boost the chances of the revival of a Pakistan-India series in either country.

— “In an ideal situation we would love to host India for a test series and will also send our team across the border to play there,” said Musarrat. “But unfortunately this is not the case. At the moment, we can’t say for sure what will happen (at the summit). In such circumstances saying no to the Gulf series as the Indians have done is not a very good move.” There is a general feeling in Pakistani hockey community that the Indian rejection of the Dubai series may have been a result of Pakistan’s negative response to their request to reschedule the Champions Trophy.

— But Musarrat refrained from commenting on the motives of the Indian move saying that the PHF has not even been officially informed about the decision. To a question, Musarrat said that the PHF has given their team’s availability to play in Dubai next February and it will be a part of any competition that is staged there with or without India.

— “We have confirmed our availability and if the organisers in Dubai come out with a good option we would send our team to play there.” Dubai organisers have been trying to hold a tri-nation tournament in Dubai involving Pakistan and India and either Great Britain or Australia as the third side.