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As many as 21 men’s international players, along with 8 female players, as reported by the Indian Express, have opted to sit out of the tournament citing multiple reasons.
Hockey India League players’ auction
The Hockey India League makes its return following a seven-year hiatus but, it seems as if the resurgence may just be snuffed out before its incpetion as a whole as a mass exodus international players has now transpired.
In the HIL Auctions on October, eight men’s and four women’s franchises snapped up 96 international stars. Now, with a fortnight left for the competition to begin, more than one-fourth of them have pulled out.
HIL seemed to be intent on rectifying the mistakes of the previous editions, which ultimately rendered the league unsustainable, and have consulted a private entity to ensure the layout of a sustainable model.
But, it seems like they are already faced with their first issue, as many players, as much as 21 men’s players as reported by the Indian Express, have opted to sit out of the tournament citing multiple reasons.
The first major reason is said to have been the timing of the league. Set to begin on December 28, days after Christmas and before New Years’, it does not bode well for the international players who would prefer to unwind in the holiday season.
The unattractive salary packages offered were yet another reason, as the lack of monetary incentive, coupled with the prospect of spending their days in Rourkela, a relatively silent city, all make for not the best package for any player.
Having operated under a strict salary cap of Rs 4 crore for the men and Rs 2 crore for women, the franchises opted to go big with the Indians, leaving them with a limited purse for the international players.
It has also been reported that eight women players have withdrawn as well, including the likes of Dutch Olympic champion Xan de Waard, Germany’s Nike Lorenz and Britain’s Anna Toman, and many others.
Hockey India, in light of the outcome, have been left embarrassed, and secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said the trend reflects the changing times in Indian — and world — hockey.
“It is important to understand that when the HIL took place in 2013, the situation has changed a lot. Back then, the franchises spent a lot of money because the foreign players were good and Indian hockey was a bit down. So the franchises put their money on foreign players so that their team would be strong. But now the times have changed,” he said.