Indo-Pak hockey series postponed

The much-awaited hockey series between India and Pakistan scheduled to take place at Dubai in April-May this year, which would have marked the resumption of sporting ties between the two countries, has been postponed.

However, the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), which has to organise the series on behalf of the UAE hockey committee, stated that the postponement has nothing to do with uncertainty about the Indian squad being cleared by the Government to participate in the tournament.

According to Mr Zahid Noorani, Chief Executive of the CBFS, the tournament had been deferred as the repair work at the hockey ground would not be completed before April.

"We are planning to host the series in December 2001 or in January 2002. The dates are yet to be finalised...Our decision to postpone the event has nothing to do with doubts on India's participation," Mr Noorani told Gulf News.

He said,"We wanted to make the astro-turf ready for the event. But we realised that the turf cannot be completed before april."

The decision to organise the series in Dubai was taken when hockey officials from India and Pakistan had met in Malaysia recently. Indian Hockey Federation(IHF) Chief K P S Gill had stated that he favoured organising Indo-Pak hockey matches at neutral venues.

The hockey series proposal had generated tremendous enthusiasm among expatriates from the two countries in this emirate.

Meanwhile, the newspaper said the CBFS officials, during a visit to Lahore recently, had checked with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) whether their team would be able to play in Dubai in November.

Pakistan, however, declined saying they would be hosting the Champions Trophy during that month.

Like in cricket, the CBFS officials want India and Pakistan to sign a long-term contract for playing in Dubai.

They have already offered this contract to Pakistan for the next four years and are planning to meet Indian officials also in this regard.

UNI