Indian hockey legend Zafar Iqbal on Thursday pitched for Pakistan gamers to be allowed to compete within the Hockey India League (HIL), which is being revived after a spot of seven years. HIL is about to return in a brand new avatar subsequent 12 months or in early 2025 with Hockey India setting its sights on reviving the franchise-based league. The HIL, which was suspended in 2017 because of monetary points and non-cooperation from workforce house owners, is predicted to be held after the Paris Olympics and can function an occasion for the ladies as nicely for the primary time.
Anurag Thakur with hockey legend Zafar Iqbal.(Jitender Gupta)
Zafar, a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning hockey workforce, mentioned on the sidelines of the revealing of the glittering Asian Champions Trophy (August 3-12 in Chennai) on the Major Dhyanchand National Stadium that there was additionally no hurt in reviving the India-Pakistan hockey Test sequence, which was held on a home-and-away foundation until 2006.
HI has requested the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for a window to conduct the HIL subsequent 12 months and is awaiting a response from the world physique. Asked, when a recent starting was being made, should not Pakistan gamers be allowed in HIL, Zafar mentioned, “Yes. I think, in sports, there should not be any politics.”
Nine Pakistani gamers have been a part of the primary version of HIL in 2013 however needed to depart the nation earlier than the beginning of the match following protests from just a few political organisations. But after that, no Pakistan participant was included until the match was discontinued in 2017. Asked if the standard India-Pakistan hockey Tests also needs to be revived, he mentioned, “I think so because there is hardly anything (differences among players). This is the political issue.
“How far I’m true or not however the reality is that in sports activities we should always not differentiate,” said the 67-year-old hockey great, who was also a member of the two silver medal-winning sides at the Asian Games in 1978 Bangkok and 1982 Delhi.
Asked if he was all for Pakistan players to come to India, he said: “Yes, as a result of folks of our nation additionally need to see how they’re enjoying and the way they examine with our workforce. Because, in any case, Pakistan was part of India earlier than, little question about it.”
Zafar also said that Indian hockey players should also play in Pakistan. “I’m positive they (Pakistan gamers) ought to be invited; they need to play right here and we should always play there additionally. That barrier shouldn’t be (there), however (once more) I have no idea in regards to the political state of affairs. It relies on the Government of India the way it it takes it, however so far as gamers are involved there ought to be no boundaries,” he added.
Hockey India president and the senior team’s former skipper Dilip Tirkey, when asked if his federation will open the doors for Pakistan players in HIL, said, “We will talk about the difficulty. Our committee will deliberate and determine on it.”
Asked for his personal opinion, he said, “There are lot of issues which (have to be sorted)”.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
