LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) believes the recently held cricket series between Pakistan and World XI will help the federation to invite players for the first Pakistan Hockey League (PHL).

“These three matches were a historic event for Pakistan and the way people enjoyed the game was great to watch,” PHF secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior said.

Big names of cricket visited Lahore for the T20I series and returned without any incident and the PHF will be looking for more of the same with the hockey players they invite for the league that begins in November.

Talking about PHL, Shahbaz said the PHF has done all the paperwork and is making a list of international players to be invited.

“There have been matches featuring international players both in the Abdul Sattar Edhi Stadium in Karachi and the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore which is adjacent to the National Hockey Stadium,” he said.

“Our security agencies have proved that both the cities are safe for sports activates featuring international players, the Ronaldhino and Friends football match in Karachi and the World XI matches in Lahore are solid proof that sport can return to Pakistan.”

The secretary further went on to add that the league will feature in these two cities.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council made this possible, with the help of security agencies, and this will surely help us in organising the league,” he said.