HWL Semi-Final 2017: Bitter rivals India, Pakistan placed in same pool

The mouth-watering clash is scheduled for June 18 next year in London.

New Delhi: Hockey's traditional powerhouses and bitter rivals India and Pakistan have been placed in the same pool of the 2016-17 Men's FIH Hockey World League Semi-Final.

The mouth-watering clash is scheduled for June 18 next year, and will be played at Lee Valley's Hockey and Tennis Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

India are the reigning Asian champions, but the fortunes of Pakistan hockey have seen a downturn. Pakistan failed to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In their last meeting, India beat Pakistan 3-2 in the Asian Champion Trophy final in Kuantan, Malaysia.

But the meeting in Hockey World League will be an intense affair considering how the two countries have reached a point of no return in diplomatic relations.

The HWL Semi-Final, featuring top hockey teams, is the penultimate stage of the Hockey World League, and will also served as a qualifier for the 2018 World Cup.

It will have two legs, with London hosting the first leg from June 15 to 25.

In the first leg, India's other opponents will be Olympic champions Argentina, European champions Netherlands, South Korea and hosts England.

Johannesburg will host the second leg, from July 8 to 23.

This leg will have Australia, Germany, Belgium, New Zealand, Spain and South Africa.

The tournament proper will start in April at Singapore with the Round 1, and will finish in Delhi in December with the final, where the champions will be crowned.