CSPA TOUR - PAKISTAN

THE Combined Services Polo Association’s recent tour to Pakistan was of far greater importance than the competitive polo alone. It was an overt gesture of understanding between not only the peoples of the two countries but also the militaries of the two countries.

The CSPA have been very keen to re-establish links with the Pakistani military polo for a number of years. Indeed, due to international events, no fewer than three planned tours with Pakistan had been postponed over the last six years. It is clear for their part the Pakistanis shared the frustration of those postponements and have been equally as keen to re-establish relations.

The product of this was a fantastic two week tour by the CSPA to Pakistan during which the team received an extraordinarily generous level of hospitality – and most importantly it was great fun.

As ever in polo, and with polo people, it is the shared passion for the great game and its magnificent horses that transcends language, religion and national difference. To see the players of both teams chatting after a game in Lahore was no different to seeing players chatting informally after any game anywhere in the world.

The tour began after arrival on a hot day in Karachi and a transfer to Lahore. The four-goal CSPA team comprised Major Mark Cann (1), Captain Nick Harrison (0), Captain Mark Dollar (2) and Captain Rupert Lewis (1).

Wives were also invited and, as with everyone on the tour, were extremely well looked after. Mrs Dollar and Cann carried long-term reserves, as both were pregnant, the latter with twins! Mrs Harrison enjoyed doing all the things they couldn’t! The level of the care and hospitality was evident in the fact a doctor accompanied the tourists wherever they went.

This was a very small CSPA squad and they were lucky to stay fit throughout especially due to the likelihood of tummy upsets and the fact Capt Dollar – the best rider on the tour – fell off no less than six times!

Over the two weeks it was hot during the day - with temperatures rising between 17 and 29C - and cold during the night, dropping to 5C.

Before the first exhibition match in Lahore the team paid visits to Mona Remount depot and the Anarkali tombs and were treated to dinner with Brigadier Pataudi of the Army Polo Committee.

The first sporting action was against the Lahore Garrison team - and the CSPA ran out victors 7-6 after a tight, hard game.
That evening the players enjoyed dinner with Lt Gen Rafi Alam and the following morning went sightseeing at Lahore Fort.
In the afternoon, an exhibition match against Lahore Polo Club saw the CSPA side suffer their first defeat with the score line 3-6.

It also marked the end of the team’s stay in Lahore and the following day they departed to Peshawar by air for an exhibition match against Peshawar Polo Club. The home side narrowly won by 5-6. While in Peshawar the players visited the Khyber Pass and enjoyed dinner with IGFC Commander at the Bala Hissar Fort.

For the next stage of the tour they headed for Rawalpindi and en route visited the Armd Corps Centre Nowshera and Probyn’s Horse. Here they competed in the Army Polo Championship with matches on the Tuesday, Friday and Saturday.
The team played well to reach the final of the championship but were well beaten by a superior side three goal to six.

Before returning to London there was just time for a visit to Bhurban Hills for a game of golf and dinner, plus a trip to Taxila and dinner with Gen Syed Arif Hassan, President of the Army Polo Committee.

The tour was excellent fun and the team, who were popular and mixed well, were superbly looked after. The relationship between the two polo associations is now extremely healthy and must be continued.

In fact such was the success of the re-establishment of relations and new found friendship, the CSPA had no hesitation through Mark Cann to extend an invitation from Field Marshal Sir John Chapple to the Pakistan Army to tour the UK between July 4 and 12, and compete in the Chapple Cup series. They will be most welcome again.