HIL closes doors on Pak players

New Delhi: Hockey India president Narinder Batra on Monday ruled out Pakistani players participation in future editions of Hockey India League (HIL), saying they will not be considered until they apologise for their ‘unacceptable behaviour’ during last year's Champions Trophy.

Still awaiting an apology from Pakistan over its players' behaviour in the Champions Trophy, Batra, who is also the chairman of HIL, today said he would love to have players from the neighbouring country in the franchise-based league but not with the kind of conduct they displayed in Bhubaneswar last year.

“I would love to have Pakistan players but not with the kind of behaviour they displayed in the Champions Trophy,” Batra said. “And they have shown no regret of that incident in writing or otherwise.

I don't want to politicise the issue but that kind of behaviour was unacceptable. Least we need is an apology from them,” he added. Two players were handed a one-game ban and reprimanded by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) after the Pakistan team went on a rampage post their semi-final win against India in Bhubaneswar in December last year.

Showing obscene gestures to the crowd, some players also took off their shirts in celebration. Batra insists that India have received no act of regret from Pakistan for the unfortunate incident.

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