NEW DELHI, 16 June 2004 — India and Pakistan will play eight home-and-away field hockey tests later this year after a five-year freeze following political tensions between the neighboring nations.
The matches will be played between Sept. 25 and Oct. 10, K.P.S. Gill, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president, told reporters yesterday. “The last series in 1999 gave a tremendous boost to subcontinent 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.
