BHF looking to Egypt, Malaysia

Hosts Bangladesh are trying to bring one of the participating teams for a few practice matches ahead of the Hockey World League Round-2 after the proposed tour to South Africa was cancelled due to the visa complications.

The Bangladesh national team were supposed to play eight to nine matches in South Africa as part of their final preparation, but the charges of Oliver Kurtz failed to obtain their visas and then the effort to arrange an alternative tour to Kenya did not materialise.

"As we can't go to either South Africa or Kenya, we requested China, Egypt and Malaysia to come here one week before the start of Hockey World League to play a couple of matches," informed Bangladesh Hockey Federation vice president Khaza Rahmatullah yesterday.

"China have already expressed their inability to come here early. Now we are waiting for responses from Egypt and Malaysia," said Rahmatullah adding that the team would not have any opportunity to play practice matches against any foreign team before the competition if both Egypt and Malaysia turn down the proposal.

The Dhaka phase of Hockey World League, one of three venues of Round-2, will get underway from March 4 at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium, with eight participating teams.