After being left out of the 33 core probables squad for the upcoming FIH Men’s Pro League over disciplinary issues, it is learnt that senior midfielder Manpreet Singh, forward Dilpreet Singh and goalkeeper Krishan Pathak could face further action from Hockey India (HI).
A day after it was reported that the trio were not picked among the probables on disciplinary grounds, a Hockey India official confirmed to mid-day that the sport’s national governing body will be further probing the matter.
“Yes, there was some disciplinary issue on the South Africa tour [India played two Tests and a friendly between December 7 and 10 in South Africa] and that’s the reason the three players have been left out of the Indian team,” the HI official told mid-day on Friday.
It is learnt that forward Sukhjit Singh had been supplied some drug-laced eatables by Manpreet, Dilpreet and Pathak during the South Africa tour, and after consuming it, he became nauseous and behaved abnormally. “All three, being senior players, must realise that they cannot do such things and that too in a foreign country. For now, the team’s focus is the FIH Pro League, but we [HI] will be investigating this matter further and initiate disciplinary action after thoroughly going through the details of all that happened in South Africa,” added the HI official.
Interestingly, with Manpreet on 411 international caps and current HI president Dilip Tirkey holding the record for most international caps (412), there were suggestions that the HI chief was deliberately keeping Manpreet out of the team since he wanted to safeguard his record. However, that’s definitely not the case, clarified the HI official: “Dilip Tirkey has been a reputed India player and captain, and will only be proud if another player breaks his record. There’s no way Dilip will even think of dropping Manpreet for this.”
Meanwhile, Manpreet, on Friday, released a statement, saying that he “had been meaning to request for a break” which is why the coach spoke to him and has allowed “this much-needed rest.”
