MUMBAI: The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) which is the apex body of hockey management in India has announced a significant development concerning next month's Premier Hockey League (PHL) tourney.

Pakistan's former captain Wasim Ahmed and another former player Sohail Abbas have confirmed their participation for the event.

The event kicks off on 13 January 2005. ESPN Star Sports (ESS) is the broadcast partner. One of the promotional pegs that the IHF is using to push the event is that for the first time in the history of the game Pakistani players of international class will play with their Indian counterparts in the same team.

IHF president KPS Gill said, "I am very happy to announce the participation of former Pakistan captain, Wasim Ahmed and world's highest goal scorer Sohail Abbas in PHL. This has been a very positive step and I am sure that this will encourage players from other countries to participate in PHL and make it a successful one."

Recently both Ahmed and Abbas announced their retirements from international hockey. Ahmed was Pakistan's most capped mid fielder with over 13 years of experience. Abbas, the world's highest goal scorer, redefined, the technique of playing and taking
penalty corners. He was known as the drag flick, penalty corner specialist.

As had been reported earlier by Indiantelevision.com PHL will offer total prize money of Rs 7.1 million.. The winner of the Tier I will take home Rs. three million while the runners up will carry Rs one million. The winner of Tier II will get Rs 400,000 while the runner up will receive Rs 250,000.