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NEW DELHI: A host of foreign players, including top Pakistani stars and 2010 World-Cup-winning Australian captain Jamie Dwyer, are lining up to be part of the World Series Hockey, which will be launched by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) later this year.
Event organizer Nimbus Sports, who recently entered a 15-year contract with the IHF, stated that the idea of the Indian Premier League-style had generated tremendous interest among top foreign players but did not divulge any names.
However, sources told the Press Trust of India (PTI) that 10 Australian and seven Pakistani players are in touch with the organisers through their agents. A number of current overseas players, who were part of the successful Premier Hockey League in India, had also shown interest in World Series Hockey.
“We have got tremendous response from players all around the world. Over 100 foreign players are in touch with us but we have a slot of 60 only. We will scrutinise them next month,” a source told PTI.
IHF president R K Shetty, however, clarified that there would be no IPL-like auction and instead teams would pick players using the draft system employed by the National Basketball Association in the US.
“There will be around four grades of players. Players in A plus category will get around 45 to 55 lakhs ($99,000-121,000). A, B and C graded players will get around 40 to 50 ($88,000-110,000), 30 to 40 ($66,000-88,000) and 20 to 30 lakh rupees ($44,000-66,000) respectively,” he said.
Shetty also stated that the final list of players would be finalised by February and that the participation of Pakistani players would be subject to clearance from the government.
