President Asif Ali Zardari will not only invite and honour the Pakistan hockey team at presidency but also give cash awards, if the team returns home with World Cup Hockey title, said Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Secretary General Jehangir Bader.
During his visit to the National Hockey Stadium where camp is underway for preparation of Hockey World Cup, which gets underway in New Delhi on February 28, the PPP leader exchanged views with the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) secretary Asif Bajwa about team preparations for this mega event.
Asif Bajwa told Jehangir Bader that players are working hard in the training camp for the World Cup. As part of the preparations for the mega event, the Pakistani hockey team played two test match series against Holland in Qatar. "We will try to give our best in the World Cup. The preparations are going well and our boys are playing the best hockey of their career," he said.
Talking with the players, Bader exhorted upon them to work hard and earn honour for the country. Sources in the PHF told Business Recorder that the PHF under leadership of Qasim Zia is keen to host the 2012 Champions Trophy. PHF has already sent an expression of interest to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) regarding the hosting rights of the elite six-nation event, sources said.