New Delhi: Players who have signed three-year contracts with World Series Hockey, a joint initiative of the Indian Hockey Federation and Nimbus Sport, should acquire NOCs from their respective city-based franchises to play in the proposed Hockey India League, a top Nimbus official said here on Wednesday.
“Around 14-15 players of the Indian team that played in the Olympics have signed three year contracts with our franchises. They will have to apply and get No Objection Certificates from their respective franchises in order to play in another league,” Nimbus Sport’s Chief Operating Officer Colaco said.
The country’s 90 best players, including all the 16 members of the London Olympics team, will be part of next month’s players’ auction for the inaugural Hockey India League to be held in January-February next year.
Hockey India secretary general and chairman of HIL Narinder Batra said on Wednesday that the creme de la creme of Indian hockey, including the 32 junior players who are receiving a stipend of Rs 10,000 each a month, have signed up for the HIL Players Auction.
“We are delighted that top Indian players will be able to rub shoulders with the world’s best during the Hockey India League,” he said in a statement.
Bharat Chetri, who led India in Olympics, and PR Sreejesh are among the goal-keepers while drag-flick exponents Sandeep Singh, VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh are among the 14 full-backs who have signed for the prestigious league.
India vice-captain Sardar Singh leads the list of 25 midfielders while SV Sunil, Shivendra Singh, Tushar Khandker and Gurvinder Singh Chandi are among the 41 forwards.
Meanwhile, IHF president R K Shetty, while not foreseeing any problem in conducting this year’s WSH, slammed Batra and the International Hockey Federation for India’s poor show in the Olympic Games.
“We don’t foresee any problem (in conducting WSH-2),” Shetty said in response to Batra’s statement.
“We had allowed players who had signed up for WSH to play in the Olympic qualifiers as we wanted India to do well.
“But none of the players who took part in WSH were considered for selection and it resulted in the team finishing 12th and last,” Shetty said.
“And the supremo of HI (Batra) had the cheek to say he owns up responsibility for the poor display. In any other country he would have been sacked, but not [in India],” he said. (PTI)