Pakistani players deserve to be in HIL: Indian skipper
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NEW DEHLI: India's hockey captain Sardar Singh has thrown his weight behind the participation of Pakistani players in the Hockey India League (HIL), saying there was no room for politics in sport.
As many as nine Pakistani players were part of the first edition of HIL in 2013 but were barred from playing after pressure from political parties in India. Players from the country were not considered the following year owing to political tensions between the two countries.
"Pakistan have good players and they should be allowed to play in the HIL. Good players need to play in the league. But I also understand the situation and one must follow the government's stand on it," Sardar said.
Former skipper Ajit Pal also echoed Sardar's sentiments and said that India and Pakistan should play bilateral series' to promote the sport.
"As a sportsman, I would say they should be allowed. But one must understand the situation," Ajit Pal said.
Pakistan and India last faced off in the semi-final of the Champions Trophy, which the Greenshirts won 4-3. The enthusiastic celebrations by Muhammad Imran's side at the end of the match caused a furore in India and soured relations between the two federation to some extent.
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Comments (35) Closed
Jan 20, 2015 08:26pm
"But I also understand the situation and one must follow the government's stand on it,"
- plain and simple
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Jan 20, 2015 08:27pm
Exactly
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Jan 20, 2015 08:35pm
Well Said!
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Jan 20, 2015 08:45pm
There should be regular hockey series between India and Pakistan just like the cricket series so that Hockey would be popular in both the countries and bring in the much needed money for the players in both the countries. I wonder why there are no series amongst nations for sports like hockey, football etc?
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Jan 20, 2015 09:22pm
How much of this is a desire for making the game and the players more money and how much for other reasons?
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Jan 20, 2015 09:26pm
After all what has happened in the match against Pakistan, I'd say he has a big heart.
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Jan 20, 2015 09:52pm
After all he is kind Indian...
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Jan 20, 2015 10:10pm
@gurpreet singh ultimately the truth speak loudly.
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Jan 20, 2015 10:12pm
It is in the interest of both countries to play as many matches as possible in any form.
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Jan 20, 2015 10:12pm
Some Pakistani players are world class. They must be allowed to play in HIL. Request Indian Govt to throw out politics from sports.
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Jan 20, 2015 10:20pm
@gurpreet singh Kind Indians all we need for better relations unlike Modi mentality.
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Jan 20, 2015 10:29pm
@gurpreet singh Those who are making rooms for 'Politics in Sports' and not allowing Pakistani team to play are also Indian.
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Jan 20, 2015 10:31pm
He actually said Pakistan players should play in HIL Not deserve to play. No hatred but at least post correct statements.
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Jan 20, 2015 10:32pm
It will be good to see Pakistan players playing in hockey league. The game becomes aggressive and entertaining for viewers.
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Jan 20, 2015 11:27pm
I agree with him. People to people contact is important.
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Jan 20, 2015 11:37pm
I agree with him. Politics should never been allowed in sports...
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Jan 20, 2015 11:42pm
This is the best way to defeat the fundamentalists on both sides. If people decide to get on with their lives and learn to live in harmony, fundamentalists will cease to exist. The problem is that the media, politicians and fundamentalists have corrupted our minds to the extent that normal Indians and Pakistanis have started to view each other as enemies. Sad but true.
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Jan 21, 2015 12:02am
He will be a former captain pretty soon.
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Jan 21, 2015 12:16am
I agree that cultural/sporting relationship should not be allowed to be a hostage to political compulsions...but,then,human emotions often rule over reason and sanity!!!
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Jan 21, 2015 12:41am
First of all, the Pakistani players needs learn how to behave professionally in another country before they are allowed to showcase their performance.
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Jan 21, 2015 02:03am
Thank you Mr singh you will always have our respect. Love from pakistan
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Jan 21, 2015 06:14am
They should now allow Pakistani cricket players too in IPL
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Jan 21, 2015 06:48am
Pakistanis are our immediate family. We must let them play in all Indian sports. It is with playing sports together we get to develop our relationships and friendship again.
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Jan 21, 2015 07:28am
Let them play and then ban them again at will. I'd rather they don't play.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:17am
Its a good gesture from a good human.
But Pakistani players need to learn how to behave
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Jan 21, 2015 08:42am
@sam @truth settle down now! Appreciate a nice gesture rather than vitiating it with your narrow mindedness. They should be allowed to play in HIL. Makes the game more entertaining. Sardar Singh deserves our respect in taking this stand.
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Jan 21, 2015 08:54am
Rivalry in sports is good. England and Australia are also bitter rivals in Cricket. Only India-Pakistan rivalry gets translated to other things other than sports. Both sides need to grow up.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:26am
Politics shouldn't be involved in anything but politics itself. Talented players on both sides know what's favorable for the game but 'government stand' ruins everything.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:41am
I am in absolute favor of Pakistani CRICKETERS playing in IPL. Because even commentary box is poorer without Ramiz, Akram but thankfully commentators are out of this ambit.
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Jan 21, 2015 09:53am
@irfan khan
tell this to kohli...
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Jan 21, 2015 11:27am
A big no for Pakistan.
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Jan 21, 2015 11:29am
Good gesture
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Jan 21, 2015 12:09pm
Yes. But they should be taught that a true sportsperson never looses cool even if the whole crowd gets mad. This is true sportsmanship. It is for every sportsperson not just Pakistanis.
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Jan 21, 2015 12:24pm
Being a Pakistani I dont think the Pakistani players should be in HIL.
1. Government stand
2. After Pakistani hockey players jingoistic acts after their match against India last time round.
Let the wounds heal and maybe in the future.
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Jan 21, 2015 02:45pm
@Warrior Bin Qasim let's see if not then. I hope you will understand the reason why
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