Manpreet Singh (Image credit: Hockey India) NEW DELHI: Hockey India’s decision to drop senior players, including veteran midfielder and former captain Manpreet Singh, from the probables list for the upcoming FIH Pro League season sparked disciplinary issues during the national team’s tour of South Africa in December, sources told news agency PTI.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!According to a PTI report, a serious case of indiscipline came to light during the tour which led to Manpreet, Dilpreet Singh and wicketkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak being dropped from the probable list which was announced on Thursday. India were in South Africa for a three-match Test series from 2–16 December, which they lost 2–0, with the third match ending in a draw.“A serious case of indiscipline came to light during the South Africa tour, which also involved a fourth player, whose name has not been released. The players later apologized for giving their teammate a banned substance, but the decision to exclude them from the upcoming camp was announced during a team meeting,” a team source told PTI.The absence of Manpreet, one of Indian hockey’s most experienced campaigners, has raised eyebrows across the hockey fraternity. The 33-year-old recently co-captained Ranchi Royals in the Hockey India League final and was widely praised for his performances in the tournament.Manpreet, a member of India’s bronze medal-winning teams at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, has not made the probables list for the first time in nearly 15 years. He is also just one international appearance away from becoming India’s men’s joint-highest capped player with 412 matches, a record currently held by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey.The suspended players were not listed in the probables for the national camp scheduled for February 1-7, ahead of the Indian leg of the FIH Pro League.The Pro League season will begin next month in Rourkela and India will host several top teams. India will begin their campaign against Argentina on February 11, with matches scheduled from February 10 to 15.Hockey India has not officially commented on the disciplinary matter, but the omissions underline the firm stance as the team prepares for a crucial international season.
India probably for the FIH Pro League
- Goalkeepers: Pawan, Suraj Karkera, Mohith Shashikumar, Princedeep Singh.
- Defenders: Amit Rohisy, Jarmanepreet Singh, Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Smit, Chavianna Channi, Yashdeep Swaach, Nylam Sanjep Xss, Anmanep Loss.
- Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Hardik Singh, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Vishnu Kant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Rosan Kujur.
- Forward: Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Mandeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Angad Bir Singh, Uttam Singh, Selvam Karthi, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Maninder Singh.
