The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is eager to see a resurgence of bilateral hockey matches between India and Pakistan. FIH president Tayyab Ikram emphasized the immense value such a series would hold for both nations, as well as for the global hockey community.
In an exclusive interview with PTI, Ikram stated, “For us, given a choice, we want to start tomorrow with a bilateral hockey series between India and Pakistan. It is good for both India and Pakistan, and world hockey.” The last time these neighboring countries faced off in a bilateral series was in 2006, with Pakistan emerging victorious. Since then, political tensions have prevented the teams from competing head-to-head outside of international tournaments.
Ikram acknowledged the challenges faced by Pakistan’s hockey team, attributing their difficulties to a lack of financial resources. “I don’t see Pakistan hockey has downgraded, it is all about lack of resources. I feel for the players. They are a strong team but today, without a strong financial model, you cannot have a high performance structure,” he said.
India continues to be a vital partner for the FIH, contributing significantly through sponsorships and hosting major events. The Junior World Cup is already scheduled to be hosted by India next year, and discussions for future events are ongoing. The FIH has also dedicated a time slot for the revival of the Hockey India League (HIL), from the last week of December to the first week of February.
Ikram highlighted the growing popularity of Hockey 5s, a shorter format of the game, as a means to engage more countries in the sport. While this new format is gaining traction, he stressed that the traditional 11-a-side format remains the primary focus, particularly for the Olympic Games.
Ikram affirmed hockey’s stable position within the Olympic movement and underscored the crucial need to support smaller member nations to strengthen the sport globally. “That is our first priority, to engage and empower the smaller nations because with them, we can be a bigger and stronger federation,” Ikram concluded.
