Players caught in IHF, HI crossfire

MANUJA VEERAPPA BENGALURU

Even as the Indian Hockey Federation called the show cause notice served on five senior national hockey campers a ‘breach of trust’ by Hockey India, the notice may just turn out to be the means to an end, which began with the suspension of the players.

Arjun Halappa, Adrian D’Souza, Sandeep Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Sardara Singh were suspended from the national camp at the SAI, South Centre last

Thursday after they left the camp without prior permission to attend a World Series Hockey event — sanctioned by the IHF — in Mumbai.

The fact that the players were allowed to conditionally rejoin the camp on Wednesday after being served the notice a day earlier, has not gone down well in IHF circles.

The IHF, which joined hands with HI on Monday with the ultimate aim of running the sport as one body, has made its displeasure clear to the sports ministry about Hockey India’s high handedness.

But according to sources, the ministry is unwilling to be drawn into the ego clashes between HI and the IHF.

“The boys will be pardoned. Hockey India is only following procedure. They will not be punished. That is our understanding,“ said a ministry source.

Meanwhile, HI’s disciplinary committee chief Pargat Singh has asked for a meeting with the errant players after the conclusion of the first camp on July 31.

“I want to meet the players, which I will do after the conclusion of the current camp. I wanted a one-onone meeting with the players. Basically, I don’t want second or third hand information.

“I want to hear what their argument is. Either they have to convince me or I have to convince them on the perspective of this issue,” said the former Indian skipper.

The players, on their part, are prepared to meet Pargat and put an end to the controversy, which over the past week has taken the focus away from the camp.