Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: International hockey returns to Pakistan as Oman Under-18 team will be visiting Pakistan from September 15 to play a four-match series against Pakistan Under-18. “It is good to see that a foreign team, no matter a junior string, is visiting Pakistan after a long gap and we welcome the resumption of international hockey to Pakistan,” said a spokesman for the Pakistan Hockey Federation on Friday. He said the four-match series would be played at National Hockey Stadium in Lahore and big gathering is expected to watch the game. “The PHF is taking every measure to ensure the return of international hockey to Pakistan and we are confident that the visit of the Oman junior team will pave the way for other teams to visit Pakistan in due course of time,” he added. He said two matches would be played under lights while the remaining two would be day matches. The first contest will be played on September 16 at 4.30 pm, 2nd on September 17 at 8:00 pm, 3rd on September 19 at 4:30 pm and the 4th on September 20 at 8:00 pm. “We are in process of finalizing the arrangements to hold the series in a befitting manner,” he added. The two teams are in the final phase of preparation for the 4th Boys Under-18 Asia Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh scheduled from September 24-30.