Chinese hockey team to tour Pakistan in December: Bajwa

KARACHI: International hockey will be revived here in December when Chinese hockey team will arrive here on December 19 from Beijing to play four match test series against Pakistan.

"It will be a great boost and revival of international sports in Pakistan with Chinese hockey team undertaking a short trip to this country in December," Secretary Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Asif Bajwa told reporters here on Saturday.

Asif Bajwa was here in the city to watch the trials of Pakistan junior hockey team in connection with the 8-nation hockey being held in Malaysia from next month.

"It will be a big boost for Pakistan sports, particularly hockey and people will be able to watch an international event at home," he said.

The PHF Secretary said Chinese hockey team will land in Karachi on December 19 and start their week-long trip with opening hockey test at HCP ground on December 20.

He said the second hockey test will be played in Faisalabad on December 22, third in Sialkot on December 24 and fourth and final hockey test in Lahore on December 25.

He said HCP will be refurbished for the occasion and face-lifting work at the stadium will start soon.

Pakistan sports had badly suffered because of terrorism problem and attack on the bus carrying Sri Lankan cricket team on March 3, 2009.