Pakistan will welcome the Chinese hockey team for a four-match series this month, keen to encourage international sport back to the terror-hit country, an official said Monday. Foreign teams have avoided Pakistan since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight people and wounding seven visiting players and their assistant coach.
For years before that, Western teams were reluctant to tour Pakistan, worried about security. Pakistan last hosted top hockey in the 2004 Champions Trophy. The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said the Chinese tour was significant. "It will help in resuming international hockey ties on Pakistani soil and we eagerly look forward to it," said secretary Asif Bajwa. The PHF said it had requested water-tight security. China will play their opening match in Karachi on December 21, with further matches in Karachi on December 22, Faisalabad on December 24 and Lahore on December 25.
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