Hockey India League 2016: Pakistani players should not be allowed to participate, says Sardar Singh

Hockey India captain Sardar Singh, who is a respectable figure in world hockey, has backed the exclusion of Pakistan players from the Hockey India League. The Pakistan players drew an embarrassing story during the 2014 Champions Trophy in Bhubaneswar, where they made some obscene gestures towards the crowd after defeating the home side.

International Hockey Federation (FIH) also took note of the incident and suspended some of the players, who were involved in such acts of indecency. However, Hockey India, who have been utterly disappointed for the Pakistan players' act, want the Pakistan Hockey Federation to apologise as well.

Their gestures have cost them a place in the prestigious HIL as well. The Pakistan players have not been picked for the HIL and will only be done after the players apologise for their indecent acts.

"Pakistani players are suffering a lot but what they did during the 2014 Champions Trophy was unacceptable. They still haven't apologised for their behaviour so I feel they shouldn't be allowed (to participate in HIL)," PTI quoted Sardar as saying.

Pakistan players have not featured in the HIL so far, though they were part of the first edition of the competition in 2013. During the time as well, the Pakistani players could not feature in the tournament as they were asked to leave even before the HIL started with protests from political groups.

Though HIL 2016 may not include any Pakistani players, a number of big names from top countries have been bought by the six participating teams during the auction. Moritz Fuerste, Jamie Dwyer, Mathew Swann are some of the big foreign players for HIL 2016, which is set to start from Monday.