India-Pakistan hockey rivalry to be renewed in March 2013

India-Pakistan hockey rivalry always injects an extra excitement than most other international clashes, and it won’t be any different when both the traditional rivals face off in a Test series on a home-and-away basis next year.

Both Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation have tentatively drawn up plans for a home-and-away series in 2013. Pakistan are likely to visit India at the end of March for a five match Test series, while India are expected to tour Pakistan in May for another five Test series.

It is learnt that Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra would visit Pakistan for a two-day trip and is expected to meet Pakistan Hockey Federation chief Asif Bajwa in Lahore on December 29.

It is hoped that the nitty-gritties of the Test series would be discussed during the visit.

Both parties are also likely to initiate steps for resumption of bilateral series, which should be a big draw among the hockey fans of both countries.

It may be mentioned here that both India and Pakistan last played in a Test series in early 2006.

The series saw Pakistan win the first three matches, while India had won a solitary game and the rest two were drawn.