New Delhi : India and Pakistan are talking hockey again. They had been doing it at regular intervals in the past too but the only difference is that this time the talks have centred around matches on either side of the border.
Dubai as neutral venue is no longer in the picture as Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation explored the possibility of playing bilateral games in India a few days ago.
The talks got a boost from Indian Sports Ministry which said that 'prima facie' there would be no issues in clearing the tour - both in India and in Pakistan. But then, clearances from ministries of home and external affairs would be central to get the series going.
"Security and political clearances are a must. Once they are obtained, we don't see any reason why theseries cannot go on," Ministry sources told Times of India newspaper on Monday.
HI secretary general Narinder Batra confirmed that he has been in touch with Asif Bajwa, his counterpart in PHF. "We have been discussing this point for many months now. This time, we were discussing idea of holding the series in two countries, particularly after the meeting in Mohali between two prime ministers and news that there may be an India cricket tour of Pakistan," Batra said.He was referring to India visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who watched India-Pakistan Cricket World Cup semifinal match in Mohali on the invitation of Manmohan Singh.
