Sohail for PHL?

Chennai, Dec. 14. Pakistan's hockey icon, Sohail Abbas, who holds the world record for the highest number of international goals, is likely to be part of the 20-odd foreign players for the ESPN-STAR Sports Premier Hockey League (PHL) starting in Hyderabad on January 13.

As many as 10 players from Pakistan are expected to take part in the month-long league and an assurance to this effect has come from the administrators of Pakistan Hockey Federation.

The PHL and the novelty in the system fashioned by the IHF and ESPN-STAR Sports have raised great expectations. The impact will be closely monitored by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

A lot of discussion on the effectiveness of the PHL had taken place during the FIH's week-long meetings at Leipzig and at the recent Champions Trophy.

Spain has offered to contribute a few players for the league if the interest shown in the project by its chief coach, Maurits Hendriks, is any indication. New Zealand is also keen to have a player or two in the programme.

The IHF hopes that there would be a sizeable number of players from Europe in the inaugural PHL. Once the final confirmation of players is obtained, the Indian Hockey Federation will allocate them to the teams announced. — Our Hockey Correspondent

Article courtesy of the Hindu