SALTA, ARGENTINA, Dec 16 (APP): President, International Hockey Federation, (FIH) Leandro Neagre has expressed his resolve to ensure Pakistan’s participation in next year’s World Cup in India saying the organisers will provide ‘special security cover’ to the visiting team from the neighboring country.
“I believe that the organisers will be providing special security to Pakistan team because there could be some crazy elements who may try to take advantage of presence of Pakistan team in India to create a bad situation,” he told APP special correspondent here on Wednesday. The FIH President sounded very firm when his attention was drawn that Pakistan may face problems in getting visas as happened in the case in cricketers who were to appear to Indian Premier League. “FIH is in constant with the Indian authorities and I am confident
that there will be no such problem as we look forward to an exciting and successful World Cup in India,” he said.
“Security of Pakistan team is a very important issue in the prevailing situation and FIH will play its due role in this regard,” he said adding “FIH is monitoring the situation on regular basis and there should be any problem for issuing visas to Pakistan and their safe stay in India.”
He said FIH welcomes the holding of a possible Pak India series at a neutral venue at a off shore venue in Gulf or at any other suitable venue. “It’s the best way to resume bilateral hockey ties between the two countries,” he added.
He said FIH fully supports PHF on resumption of international hockey in Pakistan and will encourage them to host a 4 nationa
tournament ahead of World Cup in India. “Pakistan is a role model country for its services for the cause of hockey and introduction of Champions Trophy besides it also helped many hockey playing nations to help develop and promote their hockey and now it is the time that it should get help and cooperation from them to resume its international hockey at its soil,” he said.
FIH President his recent visit to Pakistan was aimed at expressing solidarity and unity with Pakistan and to show his friendship and he time and again stated that FIH is with PHF to support them for the cause of hockey. “The Present regime of PHF, President, Qasim Zia, Secretary, Muhammad Asif Bajwa are taking tangible steps for the development of the game and it is good sign that Pak team is making goord progress in international hockey events.
“FIH Chief who was here to watch the Champions Challenge Cup, disclosed that FIH is also in process to evolve to introduce ‘World Series’ from 2012 on the pattern of Davis Cup in tennis to open doors for countries all over the globe to participate in it and win a place in World Cup, eliminating the existing system of qualifying rounds,”
he said. Three top most teams of the World Series will earn places to play in the Cup in 2014.
He said through the implementation of this plan, hockey centres like Salta in Argentina and other parts of the world will be allocated regular annual hockey competitions of regional rounds or pool matches of the World Series. Leandro Neagre praised the organizational efforts of Salta hockey event and Argentina Hockey Federation.
He disclosed that FIH is introducing a new system of awarding two wild cards in Champions Trophy from 2012 to encourage more participation of deserving hockey countries and to boost its marketing revenue.
“This system will be implemented during the 2012 Champions trophy where eight teams will be taking unlike usual participation of six top teams of the world,” said Leandro Neagre.
He said the objective of giving two wild cards has its importance in many ways. “It can be a plus point for our marketing point of view and TV rights besides we can encourage some hockey playing nations who deserve to play in this elite event owing to different reasons,” he said adding it would be the prerogative of games ruling body to award wild cards.
“I believe that the organisers will be providing special security to Pakistan team because there could be some crazy elements who may try to take advantage of presence of Pakistan team in India to create a bad situation,” he told APP special correspondent here on Wednesday. The FIH President sounded very firm when his attention was drawn that Pakistan may face problems in getting visas as happened in the case in cricketers who were to appear to Indian Premier League. “FIH is in constant with the Indian authorities and I am confident
that there will be no such problem as we look forward to an exciting and successful World Cup in India,” he said.
“Security of Pakistan team is a very important issue in the prevailing situation and FIH will play its due role in this regard,” he said adding “FIH is monitoring the situation on regular basis and there should be any problem for issuing visas to Pakistan and their safe stay in India.”
He said FIH welcomes the holding of a possible Pak India series at a neutral venue at a off shore venue in Gulf or at any other suitable venue. “It’s the best way to resume bilateral hockey ties between the two countries,” he added.
He said FIH fully supports PHF on resumption of international hockey in Pakistan and will encourage them to host a 4 nationa
tournament ahead of World Cup in India. “Pakistan is a role model country for its services for the cause of hockey and introduction of Champions Trophy besides it also helped many hockey playing nations to help develop and promote their hockey and now it is the time that it should get help and cooperation from them to resume its international hockey at its soil,” he said.
FIH President his recent visit to Pakistan was aimed at expressing solidarity and unity with Pakistan and to show his friendship and he time and again stated that FIH is with PHF to support them for the cause of hockey. “The Present regime of PHF, President, Qasim Zia, Secretary, Muhammad Asif Bajwa are taking tangible steps for the development of the game and it is good sign that Pak team is making goord progress in international hockey events.
“FIH Chief who was here to watch the Champions Challenge Cup, disclosed that FIH is also in process to evolve to introduce ‘World Series’ from 2012 on the pattern of Davis Cup in tennis to open doors for countries all over the globe to participate in it and win a place in World Cup, eliminating the existing system of qualifying rounds,”
he said. Three top most teams of the World Series will earn places to play in the Cup in 2014.
He said through the implementation of this plan, hockey centres like Salta in Argentina and other parts of the world will be allocated regular annual hockey competitions of regional rounds or pool matches of the World Series. Leandro Neagre praised the organizational efforts of Salta hockey event and Argentina Hockey Federation.
He disclosed that FIH is introducing a new system of awarding two wild cards in Champions Trophy from 2012 to encourage more participation of deserving hockey countries and to boost its marketing revenue.
“This system will be implemented during the 2012 Champions trophy where eight teams will be taking unlike usual participation of six top teams of the world,” said Leandro Neagre.
He said the objective of giving two wild cards has its importance in many ways. “It can be a plus point for our marketing point of view and TV rights besides we can encourage some hockey playing nations who deserve to play in this elite event owing to different reasons,” he said adding it would be the prerogative of games ruling body to award wild cards.
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