Asif Bajwa, the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary, told Arab News on Thursday that he was confident India will come and play a full Test series here in January 2012.

“We’ve had some positive discussions regarding the series with Indian officials during the last few days and are now hoping to host their team next January,” said Bajwa, a former Olympian.

According to Bajwa coaches from both teams have supported the idea of a Pakistan-India Test series in the leadup to the 2012 Olympic Games in London next summer.

Michel van den Heuvel, Pakistan’s Dutch coach, and his Indian counterpart Michael Nobbs of Australia have both backed the revival of a Pakistan-India series.

“Coaches from both the teams are fully supporting the idea of a Test series between Pakistan and India. They believe that such matches will be helpful for the teams ahead of the Olympics,” said Bajwa.

Pakistan, by virtue of winning the Asian Games crown last year in China, has already qualified for the London Games. India, meanwhile, will have to earn a berth by winning a qualifying event later this year.

Pakistan and India share a rich hockey history and the rivalry between the two former Asian giants is unmatched in international hockey.

Bajwa said that he met with a senior Hockey India official in Perth on the sidelines of an international tournament. “We were told that they (India) really want to revive the bilateral series against Pakistan,” said the PHF secretary.

A few days back, Bajwa wrote a letter to Narinder batra, Hockey India’s secretary, and received a ‘positive’ response from him.

“Following my correspondence withBatra I’m expecting some concrete developments regarding the series soon,” said Bajwa.

While Pakistan are hoping that India will visit here for a four-match series, the PHF has already decided to send the women’s national team to India next January for a three-match series.

Pakistan, which was once a major destination in international hockey, has not hosted high-profile matches since the 2004 Champions Trophy in Lahore. However, the PHF has managed to convince China to come and play a Test series here next month. A home series against India will be a huge boost for Pakistan, who are hoping to host major events here in the future.