Hockey India mulling to challenge players’ suspensions
The Indian Hockey Team is annoyed by the five suspensions awarded to the team by the Tournament Director, Graham Napier, after a brawl errupted between the Pakistani and Indian players in the first-leg match of the Three-Nation Tournament.
The management of the Indian hockey is mulling to challenge the suspensions, claiming their opponents were responsible for the scuffle.
Tournament Director, Graham Napier, handed bans to five Indian players, Gurbaj Singh, Tushar Khandker, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Assistant Coach Jugraj Singh and Exercise Physiologist David John. Additionally, he also banned the Pakistani skipper, Shakeel
Abbasi.
Jugraj Singh and Gurvinder Singh Chandi were awarded five-match suspensions while Gurbaj Singh was disqualified for three fixtures. Tushar Khandker, David John and Shakeel Abbasi got one-match suspensions each.
Hockey India (HI) Secretary, Narinder Batra, while speaking to the media stated that they will file an appeal against the player’s punishments. He further said that he directed the team to adopt relevant procedures required for the appeal.
In his view, the Pakistani team was responsible for the fracas. He underscored, “As per the feedback that we have got from the team management, it was the Pakistani players who instigated the Indian players but they (the organisers) thought it is the Indians
and have penalised the Indian players for the fracas”.
He maintained that they sought a video clipping of the entire mishap, as the sports body wanted to know what actually happened there.
Indian Coach, Michael Nobbs, also blamed the Pakistani team for the entire ugly show. He commented, “It was a disaster waiting to happen. It is disappointing to see the players being suspended. I don’t know what happened but the Pakistan players were the
ones who instigated our players”.
The scuffle started between the two traditional arch-rivals when one and half minute was left for the regular time to elapse.
As per the initial reports, Gurbaj Singh struck on Shafqat Rasoo’sl leg while the latter was trying to dodge him.
Pakistani captain, Shakeel Abbasi, faced up Gurbaj Singh, when Pakistan received a short corner. Within no time, a fully fledged scuffle emerged between the players from the two teams.
After the fracas, Gurbaj Singh sustained a head injury that required a couple of stitches. The duo decided not to further carry on the game that concluded in a three-all draw.
The fracas not only earned bad names for both the countries but also put both contenders in trouble. The managements of the duo should focus on counseling their players in order to avoid such incidents in future.