Gagan may miss the Pakistan bus again

The Punjab player was not picked for the eight-match Test series against Pakistan in October despite reporting fit, fuelling speculation of a fallout with IHF during the Olympic Games.

Gill also said that Deepak Thakur would not be considered for the forthcoming international tournaments as he had been advised rest by doctors for a period of six months.

Thakur sustained an injury uring the Athens Olympics in August and has been on the sidelines since then.

The IHF chief also made it clear that there would be no place in the team for veterans Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon.

“There is no question of taking Pillay back into the team. I don’t think Baljeet has a chance either,” Gill said.

On the current team, he said, “the young boys have a lot of potential. They play as a team, which is important. This team is very committed. I think after many years players are unitedly wanting to do well.”

Spain to play in India

Olympic semifinalists Spain would play two hockey test matches against India in Chandigarh later this month as part of the teams’ preparations for the upcoming Champions Trophy, IHF announced today.

The matches, to be played on November 28 and 30, would be officiated by Rashid Mahmood Butt and Syed Zulfiqar Haider, both from Pakistan.

The Spanish team would visit India for the first time in eight years. The last time they toured India was in 1996 when they played in the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup tournament.