Former India captain Dhanraj Pillay on Monday batted for the participation of Pakistani players in Hockey India League and suggested the league authorities to siphon off some money for setting up academies to develop and improve the quality of the sport in India.
Pillay said Hockey India should have taken permission from the politicians to allow Pakistani players to participate in Hockey India League.
“Hockey India should have taken permission from the politicians to allow Pakistani players to participate in the HIL. I don’t think they would have any issues with that,” he said.
Pillay is in the city for the second edition of Bengaluru Cup which is being played at the Hockey Stadium here. Pillay is guiding Air India team.
The crux of the matter is that Pakistanis refused to tender apology for their misconduct and hence they have banned them from playing in the HIL, Pillay said.
“The problem is they have not apologized for their misconduct … that happens. However, things could have been sorted if the federations would have approached the politicians,” he said.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on December 14 last year banned two Pakistani players for one match each in the aftermath of Pakistan’s victory over India in the Champions Trophy semifinal.
