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Journalism of Courage
Former Pakistan hockey great Shahnaz Sheikh has said the resumption of Pakistan-India hockey ties is necessary,but would not benefit either team’s standings on the world stage.
Shahnaz put this down to the declining state of the game in both countries and said both teams were mediocre at the best.
“What will Pakistan achieve playing against a lowly-ranked Indian team that finished last at the London Olympics? Same goes for India,what will they achieve playing against Pakistan who finished at seventh place in the London Games,” the Daily Times quoted Shahnaz,as saying.
“It is obvious that everybody wants to see Pakistan and India playing against each other but I believe now is the time for the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to think about how to improve the game and the players’ performances in order to obtain good results in future tournaments,” Shahnaz said.
A two-member delegation of the PHF will be visiting India this month to chalk out details for a possible bilateral series.
“I am not saying the series shouldn’t take place because I,too,love to see Pakistan and India in action. Ideally though,the PHF should organise a series with Australia,Spain,Argentina and against all other countries that are ranked above Pakistan,” he said.
“It is time for the PHF to take concrete measures to improve hockey at national and international level or else the game will vanish,” he added.
