Daily Times

KARACHI: In a bid to revive the national sport in country, ARY Digital Network has launched Pakistan Cup nine-a-side hockey tournament with the collaboration of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).

Under ongoing patriotic campaign of ARY and Daily Times, Shukriya Pakistan, six teams are competing for honors in the inaugural Pakistan Cup nine-a-side hockey tournament at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Stadium, formerly Hockey Club of Pakistan. On the occasion of signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding with Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ARY Digital Network Salman Iqbal said, ‘this is a joint venture of ARY and PHF to support Pakistan’s national sport, adding that if Pakistan Super League could not be held in Pakistan, hockey can be played in Pakistan’.

Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan inaugurated Pakistan Cup nine-a-side hockey tournament on Sunday while all matches are being telecasted live on ARY Music.

The six teams are participating in this tournament include Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP), Wapda, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Customs and a team to be fielded by the PHF.

The winner of the event will be rewarded by Rs 2 million. Besides, every goal-scorer will get Rs 5,000.

Three matches are being playing daily under floodlights in the event which is being organized by the PHF in collaboration with the ARY. According to format, each team is consisted of 16 players and nine can play. The size of the ground will remain the same and the goalpost will be two feet wide then the original one. The matches are being played in two halves spread over 20-minute each with five minute interval.