New Delhi, June 16: India today said it had no reservation in playing hockey series against Pakistan but gave no indication about the possible resumption of cricketing ties.
"We are playing against Pakistan in different hockey tournaments. As far as bilateral series is concerned, we have not received any proposal from the Indian Hockey Federation in this regard", sports minister Vikram Verma told reporters here on the sidelines of a meeting with members of the Indian hockey team who had recently returned from a successful campaign in Australia. "We will certainly consider if at all we get any proposal from the IHF", he said.
The last bilateral series between the arch-rivals was held four years back in 1999 when Pakistan toured India for a four-match series. India also reciprocated by playing five test matches in Pakistan the same year. Both the teams have, however, clashed in several multi-nation tournaments in the last four years with the latest being the double-leg hockey tournament in Australia where they played against each other twice.
With Pakistan planning to invite India for participation in a nine-nation hockey tournament to be held in Lahore in December, the Centre is likely to give the nod to the team to tour Pakistan.

"I am not aware of any such invitation. But we are playing against them in almost all other sports. So if we get any such request we will see what can be done", Verma said.

Verma refused to comment on cricket ties saying he just wanted to talk about hockey.

Bureau Report