Batra meets players to discuss captaincy row

By Tushar Bhaduri in New Delhi

WITH the World Cup just a fortnight away, Hockey India is keen to give an impression that the team is unified and the captaincy controversy has not caused any rift among the players.

Alarm bells were sent ringing when the team lost to a combined petroleum side in a practice match on Friday, prompting secretary general Narinder Batra to make an unscheduled visit to the players. “ I was told by chief coach Jose Brasa that the players had some issues on which they wanted to talk to me,” Batra told MAIL TODAY . “ We had a two- hour meeting held in good spirits and if there was any tension before, it was resolved.” He stressed that there was no scope of a change in captaincy.

“ Rajpal Singh will remain captain.

The players had a certain viewpoint after being told by Brasa that Prabhjot Singh’s name was recommended for the post. I had discussions on the issue with the team and the coaching staff and even with individual players separately.

Both Rajpal and Prabhjot were present. I told them about the selection process and we appreciated each other’s viewpoint,” Batra said.

He admitted that the loss against the petroleum outfit had worried him. “ I wondered how could they lose to a petroleum team. But after talking to them, I was relieved to know that it was just one bad day.

“ I told them to concentrate on a good position in the World Cup,” Batra said.

The players also wanted to go to Chandigarh on February 20 and 21 on some prior commitments and he said it was up to the chief coach to make a call on that. “ Those are their off days and I won’t like to interfere in their training process. If it motivates them to perform better, I have nothing against it.” Prabhjot said the meeting was a routine interaction. “ It was a courtesy call and there was nothing special in it. The talks were held in a good atmosphere,” he told M AIL T ODAY . Talking about the loss, he said: “ It was just a practice match and we were trying new plans.”