Confusion rules rebels’ hearing

BANGALORE: The hearing of the five ‘rebel’ hockey players – Arjun Halappa, Adrian D’Souza, Sandeep Singh, Sardar Singh and Prabhjot Singh – did not take place in New Delhi on Sunday, leaving Pargat Singh, whom the players were supposed to meet, fuming.

Instead, four of them, barring Prabhjot, made their way to Sports Authority of India (SAI), Bangalore centre, although their names did not figure in Hockey India’s list of campers for the second phase, beginning on Monday.

Interestingly their names figured in the SAI list sent to the Bangalore centre earlier this week.

Confusion ruled the day as one of the rebel players insisted he had no idea that his name had been struck off the list and that he would report for the camp anyway.

Neither had he any information that he had to meet Pargat in Delhi. Air India officials confirmed that Arjun and Adrian – two of the five players who made it to Mumbai for the World Series Hockey function last month without official permission – did not figure in the list and that they had been informed of it.

News also emerged that Haryana Police had not got any letter from HI, indicating that Sandeep and Sardar too are uninvited guests at SAI.

However, a HI official tried to allay fears, saying that it wouldn’t correct to stop the five players from joining the camp and that the matter would be sorted out in the coming days.

In all probability, Pargat, HI’s disciplinary committee chairman, too may talk to the players later this week, he said. Pargat said he wouldn’t make any recommendation to HI.

“The five players were supposed to meet me today, but none of them turned up. I really cannot comment on this issue. The best people to talk to are the Hockey India officials. I will write to Hockey India explaining the prevailing circumstances.”

Meanwhile, the camp may gather pace by Tuesday what with chief coach Michael Nobbs and HI’s coaching committee chief SS Grewal set to reach Bangalore only by Monday evening.