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Good Things Are Going To Happen For Pakistan Hockey In 2017

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A lot of good things for Pakistan Hockey happened last week, looking at these good things, it wouldn’t be wrong if we call this the best week for Pakistan Hockey. Here’s everything that happened for the green-shirts, which we, consider as fortune favoring the brave.

1- Pakistan qualifies for Hockey World Cup Bhubaneswar 2018:

Source: Hindustan Times

Pakistan Hockey team, which failed to qualify for the World Cup 2014, has become the 13th team to qualify for the World Cup 2018. In 2014, the team failed to secure a spot in the World Cup for the first time in its illustrious history. The year 2015 brought along with it more darkness for the national game, as Pakistan failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time in its history.

Hockey World League Semi-Final in London earlier this year is one of the qualification rounds of World Cup 2018, but Pakistan finished seventh in the HWL London, which meant they did not immediately qualify for the upcoming world cup. However, the results at the Euro Hockey Championship, currently underway in Amsterdam, have gone very much in the favor of Pakistan, as all four of the semi-finalists Germany, England, Netherlands, and Belgium have already qualified for the World Cup via the Hockey World League.

According to FIH rules, the team that wins its continental qualifier automatically qualifies for the World Cup. This means that the World Cup ticket goes to the highest placed finisher from the Hockey World League Semi-Finals that has not already achieved World Cup qualification. Pakistan is the higher ranked of the two seventh place finishers (France) and will, therefore, get their ticket to the cup despite poor performances. Cricketer M.Hafeez and Bilawal Bhatti also congratulated Pakistan hockey team on their qualification.

Pakistan has an envious record in the world cups, having claimed the title on four occasions, more than any other nation. It is a welcome return to World Cup action for us, following the failure to qualify for the World Cup 2014, Netherlands.

2- Hockey World XI to tour Pakistan:

Source: Business Recorder

Another good news for hockey lovers is that they would see international players in action because the Hockey World XI has planned to visit Pakistan to play matches against the national team. After almost six years, Pakistan Hockey Team will play an international home series. China was the last international team which visited Pakistan in 2011-12. After that long gap, at last, World XI is touring Pakistan.

Following the footsteps of the cricket board, Hockey Federation has also announced World XI’s arrival in November. The World XI would play two matches in Pakistan, one in Lahore on November 21 and one in Karachi on November 22. According to the sources, the names of the World XI players will be revealed by PHF within few days. Players from Germany, India, Australia, Holland, and Spain are included in the World XI.

To restore international hockey in the country, all relevant officials, including the government has assured full security. PHF is making all-out efforts to revive the national game.

3- Pakistan’s participation in International Festival of Hockey 17:

Source: Planet Hockey Magzine

Australia announced the schedule of International Festival of Hockey 17 and Pakistan is going to participate in it. This elite competition will take place from Sunday 5th November to Sunday 12th November.

Pakistan is in the rebuilding stage and has high hopes of returning to former glories. The participation of Pakistani team in such events is crucial to maintaining connections at the highest level. The International Festival of Hockey is another great opportunity for the players to prove themselves. It certainly will be bigger and better than last year with top teams competing and the hockey fans will not want to miss out on this year’s final international hockey event.

4- Hockey Asia Cup:

Source: Radio Pakistan

Asian Hockey Federation announced the schedule of the 10th Asia Cup to be hosted in Dhaka from October 11-22. The winners of the Asia Cup will win a direct ticket to the World Cup. Pakistan has been placed alongside India, Japan and hosts Bangladesh in Pool A.

Asia Cup was Introduced in 1982, the inaugural men’s Asia Cup was won by Pakistan. The green-shirts, who are currently trying to find their old form in world hockey, also won the 1985 and 1989 editions. Pakistan hockey team for Asia Cup 2017 will be announced next month.

5- PHL and other domestic affairs:

Source: The News International

Now, let us move towards Pakistan Hockey League (PHL), according to media channels a meeting had been called in Lahore on Saturday to discuss the developments of the Pakistan Hockey League (PHL).

Previous year PHF arranged jobs for 80 Hockey players in Fauji Foundation, OGDCL, ZTBL, and SNGPL. Now Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) WAH, would also provide jobs to eighteen hockey players and two officials. PHF has been in discussions with several departments, including Pakistan Television (PTV) in a bid to provide jobs to national players.

They would get substantial salaries. Those who have played international hockey would earn even higher. This is for the first time in a decade that PHF has managed to provide jobs to hockey players.

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