Indian Hockey Crisis Deep in Trouble Ahead of World Cup; As The Players and HI Officials Firm on Their Respective Stands

Indian hockey stared at crisis Monday as officials said they would not give in to “blackmail” by players, and might suspend the entire team or even pull out of the World Cup if they continued with their strike.

Hockey’s premier world championship begins in New Delhi February 28.

The game’s administrators are scheduled to meet the protesting players in Pune Tuesday morning, but said the evening before that there was no way they could concede demands for cash incentives.

Asked if the entire team could be suspended on disciplinary grounds if the players did not resume training, Hockey India (HI) president AK Mattoo told The Indian Express: “That is definitely an option. Strict disciplinary action can be taken. But I don’t want this to happen.”

Sources said the team had been given 24 hours to fall in line or be sacked. “We have a pool of around 50 players, and even if we have to suspend the entire squad, we will get a fresh group of 22 players for the World Cup,” said a senior HI official.