Lahore: The secretary of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), Asif Bajwa said they will conduct a Test series between Pakistan Whites and Pakistan Juniors before the Junior Asia Cup.
In a video message, Bajwa said it is not easy to organize international tours for the senior and junior teams amid the COVID-19 situation. “To organize an international tour we need a month-long window as every country asks for 14-day quarantine upon arrival which we can’t afford,” he said.
“Instead of organizing an international tour, we are aiming to organize a Test series in two phases among Pakistan Whites and Pakistan Juniors. Each phase consists of five matches and will serve as practice for the players,” he added.
It must be noted here that Junior Asia Cup was scheduled to take place from 4 to 12 June 2020 but was postponed due to COVID-19. Now, the event will take place from 21 to 30 January 2021 in Dhaka.
An important occasion for prospective hockey players around Asia is the Junior Asia Cup, which is slated for later this year. It provides a stage for exhibiting up-and-coming talent and high-level competition. The PHF has made the decision to schedule a number of games against formidable foreign opponents in order to guarantee that the squad is well-prepared, given the significance of this event.
Brigadier (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, President of PHF, stressed the importance of these preparations.
Matches against junior teams from top hockey nations, such as South Korea, Malaysia, and India, will be part of the Test series. These teams have a long hockey history and are renowned for their skillful play and spirit of competition. The Pakistani juniors will have the opportunity to put their skills to the test and pinpoint areas for improvement by taking on such strong opponents.
With great anticipation for the forthcoming series, head coach Danish Kaleem said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for our players to experience the intensity of international competition.” Every game will be an educational experience as we strive to improve our teamwork and strategy. Our intention is to send a confident and well-prepared group to the Junior Asia Cup.
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