You cannot throw out experience: Kaushik

Reacting to Vasudevan Baskaran8217;s caustic report indicting senior players Dhanraj Pillay, Mukesh Kumar and Sabu Varkey for their lack of commitment in Utrecht, Kaushik said: 8220;The report is surprising. My job is to unite the team. Team spirit is very important and the important thing is results. If we have a positive attitude, we can surprise our detractors.8221;

Will he be willing to go to theCommonwealth Games without the seniors? 8220;Experience is the key in big events. You cannot throw out experience. I agree that the youngsters are doing well, but let them gradually earn their places in the side,8221; he points out. 8220;You need some stars in the side to give the youngsters encouragement and to guide them in times of crisis.8221;But what about indiscipline and lack of commitment? 8220;I will not tolerate all that. No player is above the country. Hockey is a team game and there is no place for indisciplined individuals,8221; he says firmly.

But surely he will agree that the players have not been given a fair deal by the Indian Hockey Federation, and that several monetary promises have been made, that have meant nothing?

8220;The issue of money is for the IHF to decide. If the players drag that on to the field, it is bad news 8212; for all of us, and I won8217;t take it lying down. They have to give hundred per cent and more for the country. Of course, there may be some ego problems, but that8217;s human, isn8217;t it?8221; heasks.

Kaushik maintains that he is not going to experiment too much with the team, and he plans to take small corrective measures, which he feels let the team down in the World Cup.