KARACHI : Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary general Shahbaz Ahmed has verified the news that International Hockey Federation (FIH) has allowed Pakistan to make Scotland as its neutral venue for hockey.
Shahbaz Ahmed told that Pakistan had request FIH to let it hold the home matches in Scotland which has been approved. The spokesperson of PHF said Pakistan will play their home matches in Scotland from 2019 to 2022.
The secretary general further told that the step has been taken owing to the security concerns of foreign teams in Pakistan. He revealed that Pakistan will play Australia, Argentina, Holland, Germany and other strong teams in Scotland to get Pakistan hockey back on track.
Shahbaz admitted that this step will add financial burden on the federation, but it will face all the difficulties to develop interest of young generation in the sport.
He let it be known that the matches on neutral venue will cost seven to eight crore rupees, but it should be kept in mind that the expenditures to send the hockey team on an international tour are also three crore rupees.
Shahbaz Ahmed remarked that when we take a look at the benefits of making Scotland as our neutral venue, they are far more than the expenditures.