India, Pakistan to revive hockey Test series

New Delhi:

India and Pakistan are set to revive their bilateral hockey Test series after four years with the two national federations agreeing on Thursday to start an annual series for men and women from this year.

The series will be for both men and women teams and junior teams will also be a part of it.

Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation also decided to start an eight-team -- four from each country -- double leg sub-continental league to be played in both countries.

"Hockey India and Pakistan Hockey Federation have decided to conduct an annual bilateral series for both men and women. This series will be played by the senior and junior national squads on a home and away basis," a joint HI-PHF release said.

The announcement was made after a meeting HI general secretary Narinder Batra and his counterpart Asif Bajwa here.

In addition to the Test series, the two federations also decided to exchange players for their domestic hockey leagues and will also commence an eight-team double leg sub-continental league to be played in both countries.

"Four teams from India and Pakistan shall start off," the release added.

Narinder Batra told PTI that the bilateral series will start this year and a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed in a month's time in Lahore.

The last Indo-Pak hockey Test series, with three matches in each country, was held in early 2006. Pakistan had won three matches and India one while two were drawn.