Pakistan singer offers to sing for Indian hockey players

New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) Pakistani singer-actress Salma Agha today offered to perform in concerts across the country to raise money for the Indian hockey players who are boycotting the national camp in Pune to protest non-payment of their dues.

“I was following the hockey players’ boycott incident for some days. I have the plan to tour the country and perform in different cities to raise funds, which will be send to the players through Prime Minister’s fund,” Salma told PTI from Mumbai.

“The national players are like the country’s ambassadors and their demand should be fulfilled to make them happy,” said Salma who won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award in 1982 for the ghazal “Dil ke Armaan” in the movie ‘Nikaah’.

However, Salma was yet to finalise the details of her fund-raising tour, but said she would like to do it “as soon as possible”.

Chake India superstar Shahruk Khan worried about Indian hockey:

Kolkata, Jan 11 (IBNS): Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who tweeted in favour of the striking players earlier, on Monday said he hoped the controversy was resolved and both parties were happy.

“I hope it gets resolved. We should hope the strike ends and both are happy,” he said in Kolkata during his visit to cheer the players of Kolkata Knight Riders, his IPL team.

Barely 24 hours had passed since a truce over payment between the players and Hockey India and the national team is back on strike on Monday, plunging the sport into a fresh crisis ahead of the World Cup in New Delhi.

Shahrukh Khan, who backed the Indian hockey team players in their fight against Hockey India in order to get their due salaries, said: “We should not make big thing for strike.”

He said the players should be financially compensated and not go to play half-heartedly.

Earlier, Shahrukh Khan had posted on micro-blogging site Twitter: “(I) feel awful for the Indian hockey team. To play for the country’s national sport and have to ask for salary. And we complain we don’t win gold.”

The actor has essayed the role of a tough coach in Chak De! India, a Bollywood blockbuster on women’s hockey players.