Times of India: Sardar, Jacobi, Dwyer, Hayward to go under the hammer

NEW DELHI: Some of the top names of the game, including Sardar Singh, Nicolas Jacobi, Jamie Dwyer and Andrew Hayward will go under the hammer in the auctions for the next two editions of Hockey India League to be held a city hotel here on September 17.

All six franchisees are already working on their strategy to create the most competitive and winning team formation for the HIL 2016 and 2017.

The franchisees have retained their choice of players and released the rest of the squad last month. Many leading names in the field of hockey are up for grabs including the India captain Sardar Singh, who was released by Delhi Waveriders and Australian legend Jamie Dwyer by Jaypee Punjab Warriors.

The biggest challenge that the franchises may face is to match talent with the money in their kitty.

The Waveriders have released its captain Sardar and drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh. While the former is regarded as among the best mid-fielder on the world, the later is seen as lethal force in the field of penalty corner conversions.

Another two players who were a surprise release were South Africa’s Lloyd Norris-Jones and young Indian striker Akashdeep Singh.

Uttar Pradesh Warriors have released two important young Indian players — Nikkin and Nithin Thimmaiah along with the dependable SK Uthappa giving a good option for the franchisees.

Having not retained dependable goalkeeper George Bazeley of Australia, further makes the upcoming auctions interesting.

Besdies, Australian duo of Mathew Swann and Glenn Turner will also feature in the auctions.

The other big names who are available to bid for are Dwyer, Kieran Govers, Sandeep Singh and Lucas Rey of Argentina.

Kalinga Lancers have also released all its foreign foreign like Gonzalo Peillat, Glenn Simpson and Lucas Villa.

Defending champions Ranchi Rays also had released players like Trent Mitton, Moritz Fuerste, Austin Smith, Justin Reid-Ross, Sushant Tirkey and Mandeep Singh.

The next HIL auction will be conducted by renowned auctioneer Bob Hayton of London, who has 30 years of experience in this profession.