Pakistan has become a no-go place for international
sportsmen since March 2009 when Sri Lankan cricketers and officials were
ambushed by terrorists as they were traveling in their team bus. Six
Pakistanis, mostly cops, were killed while several Sri Lankan team members were
injured in the attack.
Cricket was not the only sport hit by the terrorist attack
as foreign teams also refused to travel to Pakistan for international squash,
hockey and football events as well.
But on Monday, a top Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)
official announced that China’s hockey authorities have agreed to send the
national team to Pakistan for a full series to be held from Dec. 18-27 this
year.
Asif Bajwa, the PHF secretary told Arab News that he is
expecting that the series will pave the path for bigger international events in
Pakistan in 2012.
“We have finalized the series itinerary in consultation with
Chinese officials,” said Bajwa, a former Olympian. “The series will include
five matches and will take place soon after the Champions Trophy,” he added.
Pakistan are scheduled to make their Champions Trophy in
December this year. The prestigious tournament was supposed to be held in New
Delhi but the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has moved it out of India
because of an ongoing tussle over who runs hockey in that country.
The Champions Trophy is now expected to take place either in
New Zealand or Malaysia from Dec. 3-11.
Pakistan, who last hosted the Champions Trophy in 2004,
decided against the idea of bidding for the 2011 event because of security
concerns. “Due to security fears, many international teams are not comfortable
about the idea of visiting Pakistan,” said Bajwa. “That was the reason why we
didn’t even think about offering to host the Champions Trophy,” he added.
Bajwa said that he was pleased with China’s decision to send
their team to Pakistan for the bilateral series. Pakistan had traveled to China
for a Test series earlier this year.
According to the PHF, Pakistan will host China in Karachi,
Lahore, Faisalabad and Sialkot. China will arrive in Pakistan on December 18
for the tour that will conclude on the 27th.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will get back to work from Oct. 1 after
featuring in the final of the recently-concluded Asian Champions Trophy in the
Chinese city of Ordos. Pakistan lost to old rivals India in Sunday’s final on a
tie-breaker.
Bajwa said that the national players will assemble in
Islamabad on Oct. 1 for a training camp ahead of the next month’s tour of
Australia.
The
tour of Australia is a part of Pakistan’s preparations for the Champions Trophy
and more importantly the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
