Pakistan launched a new Super League hockey tournament on Tuesday, hoping to ride on the national team's success in winning its first major trophy in 11 years. One team from each of six Pakistani regions - including an invited Indian player on each team - will compete in the tournament from September 8-18 here, organisers said.
"This series will be the first of its kind to build the talent at a time when we have won a major title," Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief Tariq Kirmani told reporters.
Pakistan, who along with India once dominated the sport with three Olympic and four world titles, won the eight-nation Amsterdam men's hockey trophy in the Netherlands on Sunday.
It was Pakistan's first success in the sport since winning the World Cup and Champions Trophy in the same year in 1994 before suffering a dramatic loss of form.
The Indian Hockey Federation has already confirmed that Indian captain Dilip Tirkey, Sandeep Singh, Adrian D'Souza, Arjun Halappa, Gagan Ajeet Singh and Viren Resquina will take part.
Each match, played in the evening to encourage bigger crowds, will be played over 70 minutes divided into four quarters, instead of the normal two halves.
The PHF hopes to raise around 20 million rupees (300,000 dollars) through sponsorship deals for cash prizes for the winning team and players.
Hockey is officially Pakistan's national sport but has been overtaken by cricket in popularity.
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