Planet Field Hockey

Sports promoters in the UAE are working on a proposal to invite Australia or England to join Asian rivals Pakistan and India for a three-nation tournament planned for February next year. The UAE Hockey Committee and the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) have decided to hold a triangular event rather that a Pakistan-India test series in Dubai, as planned earlier. The event has been approved by the office of the ruler of Dubai and is scheduled to take place at the UAE Armed Forces Stadium.

But according to reports from Dubai, the astro-turf at the venue -- formerly known as the Central Ministry Command (CMC) Stadium -- is still not ready. It was because of the lack of turf that a proposed Pakistan-India series could not take place during April this year.

But now the organisers are confident that they would be able arrange excellent facilities for the competition. However, the biggest problem this time is whether the governments of Pakistan and India will allow their teams to play in the Gulf. India did not participate in the Sharjah cricket tournament this year after New Delhi decided that the Indians would not play at non-regular venues, including Singapore, Sharjah and Toronto, for the next three years.

However, the Indian Sports Minister, Uma Bharti, is on record stating that restrictions on sporting contacts with Pakistan were limited only to cricket. This is one reason why the organisers seem quite confident that India will take part in the event. In fact so sure are the officials of the UAE Hockey Committee that they've already given press statements that both India and Pakistan have confirmed their participation in the competition.

But as far as Pakistan are concerned there has been no commitment yet. A Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official, when contacted, denied that the PHF had sent any confirmation to the organisers.

"We've just told them that our team is available in February and that's all," asserted PHF Secretary Brig Musarratullah Khan. "Our participation will only be confirmed once we get a clearance from the government." To a question, Musarrat said that the organisers were yet to inform the PHF about the move to convert the series into a three-nation tournament

UAE plan hockey triangular involving Pakistan, India

Sports promoters in the UAE are working on a proposal to invite Australia or England to join Asian rivals Pakistan and India for a three-nation tournament planned for February next year. The UAE Hockey Committee and the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) have decided to hold a triangular event rather that a Pakistan-India test series in Dubai, as planned earlier. The event has been approved by the office of the ruler of Dubai and is scheduled to take place at the UAE Armed Forces Stadium.

But according to reports from Dubai, the astro-turf at the venue -- formerly known as the Central Ministry Command (CMC) Stadium -- is still not ready. It was because of the lack of turf that a proposed Pakistan-India series could not take place during April this year.

But now the organisers are confident that they would be able arrange excellent facilities for the competition. However, the biggest problem this time is whether the governments of Pakistan and India will allow their teams to play in the Gulf. India did not participate in the Sharjah cricket tournament this year after New Delhi decided that the Indians would not play at non-regular venues, including Singapore, Sharjah and Toronto, for the next three years.

However, the Indian Sports Minister, Uma Bharti, is on record stating that restrictions on sporting contacts with Pakistan were limited only to cricket. This is one reason why the organisers seem quite confident that India will take part in the event. In fact so sure are the officials of the UAE Hockey Committee that they've already given press statements that both India and Pakistan have confirmed their participation in the competition.

But as far as Pakistan are concerned there has been no commitment yet. A Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official, when contacted, denied that the PHF had sent any confirmation to the organisers.

"We've just told them that our team is available in February and that's all," asserted PHF Secretary Brig Musarratullah Khan. "Our participation will only be confirmed once we get a clearance from the government." To a question, Musarrat said that the organisers were yet to inform the PHF about the move to convert the series into a three-nation tournament

UAE plan hockey triangular involving Pakistan, India

Sports promoters in the UAE are working on a proposal to invite Australia or England to join Asian rivals Pakistan and India for a three-nation tournament planned for February next year. The UAE Hockey Committee and the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS) have decided to hold a triangular event rather that a Pakistan-India test series in Dubai, as planned earlier. The event has been approved by the office of the ruler of Dubai and is scheduled to take place at the UAE Armed Forces Stadium.

But according to reports from Dubai, the astro-turf at the venue -- formerly known as the Central Ministry Command (CMC) Stadium -- is still not ready. It was because of the lack of turf that a proposed Pakistan-India series could not take place during April this year.

But now the organisers are confident that they would be able arrange excellent facilities for the competition. However, the biggest problem this time is whether the governments of Pakistan and India will allow their teams to play in the Gulf. India did not participate in the Sharjah cricket tournament this year after New Delhi decided that the Indians would not play at non-regular venues, including Singapore, Sharjah and Toronto, for the next three years.

However, the Indian Sports Minister, Uma Bharti, is on record stating that restrictions on sporting contacts with Pakistan were limited only to cricket. This is one reason why the organisers seem quite confident that India will take part in the event. In fact so sure are the officials of the UAE Hockey Committee that they've already given press statements that both India and Pakistan have confirmed their participation in the competition.

But as far as Pakistan are concerned there has been no commitment yet. A Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) official, when contacted, denied that the PHF had sent any confirmation to the organisers.

"We've just told them that our team is available in February and that's all," asserted PHF Secretary Brig Musarratullah Khan. "Our participation will only be confirmed once we get a clearance from the government." To a question, Musarrat said that the organisers were yet to inform the PHF about the move to convert the series into a three-nation tournament

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