Players want Prabhjot Singh as skipper: Sources

NEW DELHI: The crisis on the captaincy issue of the Indian hockey squad deepened on Monday with players backing Prabhjot Singh as the skipper of the World Cup side.

According to sources, Rajpal Singh doesn’t have the backing of the team-mates due to his stand during the face-off with Hockey India officials over payment issues.

Meanwhile, chief coach Jose Brasa was adamant on pushing his case that Prabhjot Singh should be made the skipper of the World Cup side.

On Sunday, sources in the team said Brasa has summoned Prabhjot, who had gone to his native place in Punjab after he was being assured of captaincy by the Spaniard, to meet him to discuss how to make a united move to present their case.

It is learnt that a section of the players were shocked by Hockey India decision to retain Rajpal Singh as captain after they had been told by Brasa that Prabhjot will lead the side in the February 28-March 13 high-profile event.

“Before the selection trials on Saturday, Brasa had announced at the hotel in the presence of all players that Prabhjot Singh will be the captain with four vice-captains. This morning we came to know that Rajpal is the captain. This had irked both Brasa and Prabhjot, who is away at his home,” the source said.

Meanwhile, Rajpal said that there was no disunity among the players and there was no meeting.

“As far as I am concerned, I am the captain and I declare that there is no disunity among us. All the players including Prabhjot are together and have been looking forward to playing for the country in the World Cup. I have not been told about the meeting tonight,” Rajpal said.