Dubai: Pakistan hockey legend Hassan Sardar believes that India-Pakistan matches may happen more regularly in near future.
Speaking to Gulf News soon after Hockey India chief Dr Narinder Batra was elected as International Hockey Federation (FIH) President, Sardar said: “Batra’s election to the top post is good for hockey. Hopefully, one can expect more India-Pakistan matches. If there are any problems in matches being played in India or in Pakistan, they can be held in a neutral venue like Dubai.”
Sardar, who won the gold medal with the Pakistan national team at the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, is hoping for the renaissance of Asian hockey. “Batra taking up the top post is not only a great day for India but also all Asian countries. Having an Indian as FIH president, I am sure, will see the revival of Asian teams. So an India-Pakistan series, which I am looking forward, will also happen,” he added.
Sardar, one of finest centre forwards in the history of the game, elaborated on why India-Pakistan matches should be held. “Whenever India and Pakistan have played each other, we have always seen the crowd coming to the stadium. People love to see watch India-Pakistan matches, whether it is hockey or cricket. So we must revive it and treat it only as a sports contest and have to play it like a sport.”
Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Brigadier Khalid Khokhar echoed Sardar’s sentiments, saying that Batra’s election to the top post will give a boost to matches between the arch rivals. “I think what has happened is a good democratic process. The post of the president of FIH must be circulated so that this post does not become the monopoly of any country. Whatever happened now should be for the good and for the Asian Hockey and in particular for India Pakistan matches.”
Stressing on the need to have India-Pakistan matches, the official said: “I feel sport is something which spreads the message of peace and hence should be encouraged. Hopefully now that this change has happened, it should be taken as a positive move. I am very optimistic that things are going to be alright.”
When asked whether UAE, which is the home for Pakistan cricket team’s international matches can also be considered as the neutral venue for India-Pakistan matches, Khokhar said: “ UAE has a federation but I don’t know whether they have the facilities yet for such an event. If they are going to built their own facilities, I feel they should do it quickly if they want to stage matches here. We are ready to play here. Even if the India Pakistan matches are staged in USA, the crowd attraction will be high.”
