Dark clouds loom over WSH

Six India regulars sent a letter saying they were distancing themselves from WSH.

The suspense over the participation of top national team players in the World Series Hockey continued on Wednesday. On a day when Hockey India made public a letter signed by six India regulars saying that they were distancing themselves from WSH,the organisers of the franchise-based league were quick to question the communications authenticity and stressed that there were no last-minute withdrawals.

But the top players,involved in a tug of war between the two powerful lobbies,have opted to sit on the fence. In hushed tones they claim that the situation is fluid and things will be clear only in the coming days.

The letter doesnt mean anything. We were just asked to sign on a sheet of paper,saying it was a mere formality. In fact,we were supposed to take a final decision on the whole issue later. Who plays or doesnt play in the WSH is still not certain, said a player,who did not want to be identified,from Johannesburg where the Indian team participating in the Champions Challenge tournament.

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The letter signed by Tushar Khandker,Bharat Chhetri,Sandeep Singh,Sardar Singh,Yuvraj Walmiki and PR Sreejesh claimed that the players would attend the national camp that is expected to coincide with WSH.

We are not playing in WSH and will be attending the national camp in Delhi for the Olympic qualifiers on December 11,2011 until February 2012 and we will be available for selection in the national team for the Olympic qualifiers, the letter read. We signed the contract with World Series Hockey under the impression that WSH will not force us to play and ask us to leave for the national camp. We play for our country and that is a matter of honour and pride for us, it added.

It learnt that five more players – Danish Mujtaba,Chinglensana,Rupinder Pal Singh,Manjeet Kullu and Birender Lakra also signed a similar letter late on Wednesday.

The WSH organisers,meanwhile,have refused to give any cognizance to the letter. We find it extremely odd that players would have chosen to write to a third party to withdraw from World Series Hockey. We,therefore,are unable to judge whether this supposed letter is a fabrication or an extortion. Not a single WSH player has communicated in person or via email to us regarding their non-availability. In fact,all the players have sent us the sizes and preferences for their kit, Nimbus Sports COO Yannick Colaco said.

Legal tangle

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In another related development,the Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses on a PIL filed by Joaquim Carvalho,alleging threats from Hockey India against taking part in the WSH.

The Hockey India (HI) would file its response within three days, a bench comprising acting Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said and fixed the matter for further hearing on December 7.

Advocate Jayant Bhushan,appearing for Carvalho,said,For the first time our hockey players are going to get some money by playing in the World Series Hockey (WSH) tournament and Hockey India is trying to deny them their right to play.

Advocate Sandeep Sethi,arguing for Hockey India,said the matter is pending in the Supreme Court and Hockey India has been allowed by the apex court to select national teams for men and women.