Crucial player-Hockey India meeting today

By Mihir Vasavda | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

In the end, it has all come down to money, it seems. India captain Bharat Chetri, representing the players, along with coach Michael Nobbs will be meeting Hockey India (HI) secretary general Narendra Batra in New Delhi on Wednesday in order to arrive at a solution over the controversy surrounding players’ participation in the World Series Hockey (WSH).

It is learnt that Chetri will be demanding financial compensation from HI if it wishes that the players do not take part in the cash-rich tournament.

If HI agrees to the demand, which sources said is likely, then the most of the members of the squad will not take part in WSH’s inaugural edition and rather join the national camp that begins in Bangalore from December 11.

“Players are getting paid handsomely by taking part in the WSH. So it is obvious they will want to be compensated and Bharat will be putting forth this point,” said a source.

Twelve players, including Chetri, have pulled out of the inaugural edition according to HI. There were indications that they were forced to sign the letter but Chetri rubbished the claims. “No one can force a player to sign a letter, we know what we are doing,” he said, adding it would be ‘better’ if WSH was held after the qualifiers. He, however, didn’t say much about the meeting.

Another potential hurdle for the players, if HI does not heed to their demand, will be to get the permission from their employers. HI, on Sunday, sent letters to all the units advising them to release players for the camp.

The camp, which will be conducted at the SAI Southern Centre in Bangalore, has been granted permission by the government and hence the players’ employers (Air India, Indian Oil, Army, etc) are obliged to release them for the national duty. Hence, if a player chooses to play in the WSH, he risks facing the wrath of not just HI, but also his employers. The letter has also been sent to the 48 probables for the qualifiers.

HI also clarified they had decided the date of qualifiers camp during in March and did not change the schedule at the last minute, as alleged by IHF.