Expatriates fly back to give conversions a try

As the Indian rugby team for the 19th Asian Rugby Football Tournament left for Hong Kong, hopes were higher than during previous chapters of...

As the Indian rugby team for the 19th Asian Rugby Football Tournament left for Hong Kong, hopes were higher than during previous chapters of the event. The inclusion of seven expats 8212; courtesy the new rule 8212; could see the Indians recording their first-ever win in this continental event starting on Wednesday.

The new look Indian team 8212; with four forwards and three backs who are regulars in the English and Irish professional leagues 8212; gives coach Willie Hetaraka of New Zealand reason to be upbeat: 8216;8216;Things will be different this time.8217;8217;

Considering India8217;s modest record, that might not require much doing. With no major international triumph, India were thrashed by Sri Lanka in their last big game at Mumbai.

India, 91st in the world, open their campaign against 43rd-ranked China. In case of a loss 8212; which seems likely 8212; India take on first-timers Pakistan, a team not even ranked on the world listing.

An easy draw and the NRI presence makes the Indian coach confident. 8216;8216;The expat players will bring in the valuable experience of playing in highly competitive leagues. When there is experience around, it rubs on to others,8217;8217; Hetaraka says.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Arabian Gulf, Kazakhstan, China, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Macau, Japan, Thailand.

THE POOLS
A: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei
B: Thailand, Arabian Gulf, Khazakhstan, Singapore
C: Sri Lanka, India, China, Pakistan

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When reminded about India8217;s huge loss to Lanka despite the presence of three of these expats, Hetaraka said, 8216;8216;Our defence had only local players but now it has been fortified with three experienced backs 8212; Amarveer Singh Ladhar UK, Francis Brown UK and Ajay Subherwal Ireland.8217;8217;

Another change in the team is the one at the top. Skipper for the past six years 8212; Chaitanya Sinh 8212; makes way for longtime deputy Nasser Hussain. Speaking to The Indian Express from Mumbai, Sinh 34 said the time had come for him to make way for younger players. 8216;8216;I am playing in Hong Kong and I8217;m around, but I won8217;t be playing for too long,8217;8217; Sinh said.

Change number three 8212; effective for all the teams 8212; is the first-time use of artificial turf at the Asian event.

But Hetaraka says that8217;s no reason to lose sleep: 8216;8216;It shouldn8217;t make that much of a difference. Grass pitches are quite hard, while the artificial pitches should be softer. The ball may roll a bit quicker, but that8217;s about it.8217;8217;

THE TEAM

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Forwards: Simon Patel, Ali Reza Choaspur, Sarvinder Dabas, Pravin Khuralkar, Christopher Walker, Alexander Walker, Moorthy Ramaswamy, Satishkumar Balkrishnan, Shailesh Devrukhkar, Hrishikesh Pendse, Nasser Hussain Captain, Faisal Siddiqui, Manminder Samra, Siddharth Rai.

Backs: Narendra Khade, Mukarram Faisullabhoy Vice-Captain, Chaitanya Sinh, Mufaddal Indorewala, Ganesh Sawant, Amarveer Singh Ladhar, Francis Brown, Ajay Subherwal, Supratik Sen, Pritom Roy.

Coach: William Hetaraka; Manager: Aga Hussain; Physio: Dr Kanan Pugazendi.

INDIA8217;S IMPORTS

	nbsp;	Forwards Simon Patel: Has been part of the England U-21 squad. Plays for Newcastle Falcons Academy Christopher and Alexander Walker: Brothers who play in the second row. Back home, they play for UK side Jersey Manminder Samra: Plays as prop/lock for UK club Moseley Backs Francis Brown: Fullback and Kicker. Plays for London Division II side Harlequins Ajay Subharwal: Centre. Plays in the Irish Premier League Amarveer Ladhar: Centre. Plays for Newcastle Falcons Academy	nbsp;