59 players from 12 countries will be included in the league but Pakistan is not one of them.
59 players from 12 countries will be included in the league but Pakistan is not one of them.
The players will be auctioned on November 18 and the tournament is due to start in January.
Earlier this year, nine Pakistani players who had signed up to play in the HIL were sent home as a result of a flare-up along the Line of Control.
Officials of the hockey league had said that the players will be paid as promised but they were not allowed to play due to rising tension.
The decision to send the players home came after around 100 workers of the hardline right-wing Shiv Sena party protested at a stadium where the Mumbai Magicians team, who had four Pakistani players in their squad, were practising. They were protesting the latest outbreak of violence in Kashmir.
COMMENTS (85)
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@saad:
We are happy without Pakistan, it's great we got separated. otherwise it would have sucked if we had a state or two like current Pakistan, where obl gets found or talibanis are killing school children or bomb blasts taking place every weekend. it's good for Pakistan if everyone wants trade and relations with Pakistan but it's a shame you guys are too busy getting killed by Taliban. so good luck stable Pakistan is good for India but it doesn't mean we are so worried for you guys. :)
@TRUE Boy: while sleeping no one gets blown up by good talibanis here in India. cheers :)
Perhaps, it might turn out to be something good since our players didn't participate in any IPL season for past 4 years and we can still see the headlines of scams and controversies in IPL which always come at the surface.Not to forget the spot fixing and match fixing cases that occurred in IPL during last and this year and one of their players got banned for lifetime. Even though I personally think that Sreeshanth is just a scapegoat. If any Pakistani player was there then they might have cooked up a new theory that Pakistani players are dishonest and always plague minds of other players, they are professionally a misfit and they along with PCB must be banned from ICC after these revelations.
Anyways, I don't want to address the aggressive and hateful remarks here since I personally have got nothing against Indians, since my own classmates, friends and colleagues included Indians too.
@usman:
Please do, by all means.!!!. More power to you.!!!
It is very strange that pakistanis feel that they have some RIGHT to participate in Indian domestic sport leagues.!!!. They are Indian domestic sporting events and pakistanis aren't welcome, it is India's right to invite whomever they like. It is not what pakistanis desire, So get over it.!!!!
It's a moment for Pakistanis in general to think of the greater world than running after someone who careless. It's Ok! We tried but now we have to try new games of the new land of Pakistan. There are dozens of ethnic and geographically Pakistani games that India don't play. How about discovering excelling in those, many countries just do that? History being witness, this is the moment when brave nations in history stepped out of their boundary and discovered new peoples. India or it's "games" are not our identity anymore, really! Wake-up from that dream if you had that.
Remember, India as an low-cost goods machine desperately need our cash market and the route through our land and has lot more to loose than gain. Ofcourse, this will give local manufacturer more time to polish their good for local and international markets with a bigger profit margin than if India was exporting their 5000 low quality pots and pans to us.
Our schools and athletic clubs should go around and bring new games. Also read the history of the world games, how they were invented or modified and why they chose to play with who they played. Probably it good for Pak to save itself now from future headaches of such activity with India than later. There should be a game invented today and played solely to celebrate every year about Indian "Lack of Sportsmanship".
@jeHanzeb what muslim slavery, whose family you are talking about the so called muslim rule was by a few ruling families which were equally ruthless to hindus and muslims alike, do u belong to any lodhi, khilji, or mughal bloodline, it is only then your comment shall make sense. Stop bringing religion into everything, it is because of this you people have nothing else left in the country. Get some proper history lesson, angels fighting in 65 war and then going on vacation in 71 war is only going to have such confused statements like this, claiming spain as yours and yourself as a descendent of muhammad bin qasim i know the pakistani lot celebrates abdali, aurangzeb and muhammad ghori, while ignoring akbar and darashikoh
seventy seven comments on this story so far, while only SEVEN on the story about terrorist killings in Pakistan during September. Wow what priorities !
Thats just shows Indias true colours. I bet Indians would be rejoicing because they just paid back for the thousand years of muslim slavery. Typical "dehati aurat" behaviour. Who wants to play alongside these so called literate hypocrites.
The Pakistani lot is a confused lot. For all practical purposes, India is an enemy state and still they want India to host their players, artists, singers etc. Should not the Pakistanis be happy about this incident since it gives them one more reason to sing about great TNT? I wonder if a similar hue and cry was made by Pakistanis when they were not confirmed for Islamic unity games in Indonesia. Did media even brought it up?
The protest done by ShivSena was against letting Pakistani players play in the Indian Hockey League due to the current tensions across the LoC with few Indian soldiers killed this year by certain "elements" in Pakistan. The Pakistani players however were not threatened in any way by ShivSena or anyone else. IHL committee might have decided to keep the Pakistani players away from the actual matches, but they are still going to get paid. So instead of cursing India, Pakistanis should rejoice and actually be grateful to India for letting their players earn some income which will be much higher than what Pakistan Hockey will ever pay them over next 5 years for playing hockey.
@Raj - USA I noticed in World Cup football matches, pakistanis root for individual muslim players or muslim countries. Amazingly religion obsessed people...!! If you read blog on pakistani visiting India it is all about muslim buildings.
@usman: Revenues from Pakistani box office are typically 1% of the ovie' revenue. The main people who benefit from Bollywood movies are Pakistani cinema owners and it is they who would suffer if Bollywood was banned in Pakistan.
ETBLOGS1987
Bad headline. No foreign team will play in IHL which is entirely a domestic tournament. It is only foreign players that will be playing. As such International Hockey Federation has no say when it comes to a domestic tournament in India. These incidents are regrettable but understandable given the increasing support to infiltrating terrorists within India which definitely does not create goodwill. Also the notion that such interactions yield a pecae dividend is not supported by facts. Consider: 1) Until 1965 no visas were needed between the 2 countries. Despite such free movement of people between the 2 countries, why did Pakistani polulation support the aggression by Pakistan forces i.e. the 1965 war?
2) There was a lot of sporting interactions in 2007 and 2008 - so why did 2008 happen.
3) In Dec 2012, India Pakistan played a cricket test series - why then in Jan 2013 were Indian soldiers beheaded?
4) Have we seen any effort on part of people like Atif Aslam, RFAK or Ali Zafar to reduce hatred towards India? No. What type of language was used by Afridi right after the warm welcome he and his team were given in India in 2011 during world cup?
I do not advocate such measures but certainly understand why they happen. Also the notion that sporting and cultural encounters lead to peace dividends is certainly contrary to the Indian experience.
@Chulbul Pandey: "We have constantly seen terrorism being exported to India from Pakistan. Another small example – Afridi gets so much love and respect in India but after leaving our shores, he bad mouthed about us as a whole based on our religion. There are other numerous examples. Now why would you invite a guest like that in your house?"
It started long before Afridi. Pakistan's Cricket is the only team that makes the whole playground an open mosque. When Pakistan's team loses to India, their Captain Imzamam Haq apologizes to the muslims of the world for losing the match. He was so stupid not to notice that Ifran Pathan was awarded "Man of the Match" honor by India. Which other muslim country makes such a mockery of religion. I have not seen Saudi Football team do so.
My heartiest congratulations to Hockey India League (HIL) on this decision. We should not invite these terrorists from coming in.
just ban Bollywood and Indian dramas, reality shows and sports channels. Within week they ask you to join the league
@trueboy
Why everyone go to delhi, Mumbai Bangalore? Why no one come to Islamabad? Why why why?
I am so angry .
India acts like either a baby or a grumpy old man all the time.
Pakistani players are welcome in east punjab . Only last week west punjab girls team played a tournament in jullandhar. Wrestlers from pakistan come on regular basis. We are anxiously waiting for pakistani kabbadi team for world kabbadi cup in november.
I am in support of this decision. The old paradigm of Pakistan continuing terrorism, and us playing cricket and continuing other things business usual approach should be stopped.
@VJ Yousafali It is all humbug to say that sports and politics must be kept separate. Your army will send its 'strategic assets' to do sabotage sending them across LOC, while your Hockey Association will allow some of your players to play hockey in India! Won't it be funny?
Pakistani's provide gr8 security to other teams..... I m Joking.....
@TRUE Boy It is not the Indian tricks that isolated your cricket team, but the attempt of some of your people to kill the visiting Srilankan cricket team that scare the other cricket playing countries away from Pakistan. The isolation is of your own making and you have no right to blame India for this.
@Moiz: The attitude by the Indian sporting bodies is consistently xenophobic, the implicit message is that an individual’s nationality and not his personality is the true gauge of his identity.
Moiz ji, first of all, my regards to you for posting a sane comment. But if I may, you are stretching the truth here - We invited 12 other countries to play in India. How does that equate to being xenophobic? . About Pakistani players not invited in India - In New Delhi Common Wealth games we Indians gave the cheers to Pakistani team so big that it was second only to our own home team. We have a consensus in India to improve relations with Pakistan but it takes two to tango. . We have constantly seen terrorism being exported to India from Pakistan. Another small example - Afridi gets so much love and respect in India but after leaving our shores, he bad mouthed about us as a whole based on our religion. There are other numerous examples. Now why would you invite a guest like that in your house? . We have a right to invite or deny anyone to our country. All our Pakistani neighbors on this forum who are cursing "Aman Ki Aasha", where are you guys when terrorism incidents in India are linked to Pakistan? . Quit hostility towards minorities in your own country and the policy of terrorism to your neighbors. Or, don't cry foul if things like these happen. Contrary to what you believe, you do not have God given right to an invite of any event in India or elsewhere. . Sincerely!
@VJ Yousafali: Yes true , but how about India having granted MFN status since 1996 to Pakistan and Pakistan is still dragging its feet. Like sports ,trade is also needed by common people .
@Pakistani: Aman ki Terrorism hurts Aman Ki Asha,
Dear Pakistani friends, for your information:
Reliance and IMG have floated a joint venture to kick off a multi-million dollar franchise-based football league starting January 2014. he first-of-its-kind football league in the country, likely to be called the Indian Super League, will feature eight teams with marquee players from across the world along with India's national stars and club and domestic talents in the three-month tournament scheduled from January to March next year.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Henry-Owen-may-play-in-IPL-style-Indian-football-league-next-year/articleshow/24451118.cms
Sorry no players from Pakistan will be invited.
@Saad: the irritation tells everything man.
@Aki: Terrorism and terror export, where india is nil and pakistan 100% LOL>
@TRUE Boy: You are very silly my boy! It is your government who failed to protect its citizens from terrorists attacks daily. Indian Government also don't want to spend money on protecting players from you nation. Grow up kid, Your nation is alone in the world.
We don't like Pakis , in fact hate them . Probably that's the reason behind it . Same thing happened in IPL. I am so happy . Jai Hind.
I'm a Pakistani liberal, and I am sorrowful that events like this come to pass with such astonishing regularity. The attitude by the Indian sporting bodies is consistently xenophobic, the implicit message is that an individual's nationality and not his personality is the true gauge of his identity. This kind of treatment is not even meted out by the West, which is as much, if not more as, under threat from Islamic extremism. That said, the Indians have the right to refuse any player entry into their tournament, even if is an underhanded thing to do. Pakistani athletes should henceforth decline from participating in Indian competitions on principle. We are clearly not welcome.
@Aki: killing its own people .... maybe..... and producing kids... maybe !! :D
@TRUE Boy: yeah right tell that to ur 40% population that lives in slums and on footpaths....and how in the world u call islamabad city.... just 1 mall..... no theatres..... city of few people and no investments and job generation....... except for bahria and DHA and too for the few corrupt rich....... how do u call it even a city.....??? its just a village....lol....
Pakistan fail to qualify in hockey world cup, very easy to say many things but very diffcult to do single thing, check your economy where it stand? cricket your number? security every day somewhere blast. So before speaking check yourself first.
The "P" word for Indian public has become serious Pain ! The Pakistani players should be grateful that they have paid too, for not playing !
@TRUE BOY: Tell me one thing in which field pakistan is ahead of india can you name any single thing???????? if you have dare answer me please.
Pakistan sportsmen, artists, musicians have come to India and made millions but their contribution to improving understanding of India in Pakistan has been zilch. It needs two hands to clap so India is using its soft power in denying income generating opportunities to that country. Hate mongers have benefited from hostility, not those who could get a helping hand from the tremendous economic opportunities India is generating. Continuing with past policies will not help in future either.
Name one Indian sports person who is interested to play in any Pakistani sports league OR name one Indian artists who wants to work in LOLLYWOOD (LOL). The day if anything like this happens, then only talk until then you are not worth to comment on us. Just shut up and stay in the dark hole where you are right now.
Similar to we Indians go to Middle East, Europe and U.S.A, to earn more, it is same with Pakistani artists or sports persons, they die to come to work for Indian industry or Indian League to earn more which is not possible even in dreams to earn in Pakistan. Feel pity for these poor Pakistani artists and sports persons.
@Arsalan Mujahid: Yes we are afraid of loosing to your players not knowing what they are carrying under their shorts.
Why can't pakistan offer smting for india or world,, so that while taking decisions indiia will keep that in mind.. Its always one way traffic
@Arsalan Mujahid - Re Your Comment "Indians are afraid of loosing…. that is why Pakistani teams were not invited…."
Before commenting on an article suggest you first comprehend it. The Hockey India League does not have any foreign teams it only has some foreign players.
I fail to understand, no matter how badly India shoe away Pakistanis, they always are dying to come to India, How can they take the insults in this manner. Even if a little bit of gairat is left in them, do not ever dream of coming to India.
Border tension is one thing and sports is another. How did Pak hockey players add to the border flare up is anyones guess. Indian people should understand this and at least spare sports persons this kind of insult for no fault of theirs. They should stop any politicians from both sides visiting or meeting each other anywhere. Pak politicians are welcomed to Ajmer and given a royal treatment but poor sportsman are chased out. We talk of CBM's between India & Pakistan where we encourage people to people contact to break ice, then what does this signify. Its high time sporting relations are maintained between both the countries. I am sure many Indians like me are sharing the same view.
@DJ: and they will get funds from pakistan army like done for Waar...ha ha...
Indians are afraid of loosing.... that is why Pakistani teams were not invited....
Officials of the hockey league had said that the players will be paid as promised.........That is fair, Indians have a right to protest LOC violations. Pakistan has a habit of using non-State actors to create problems for India.
Pakistan can play with countries like Somalia.
@TRUE Boy: We all know the VVIP Security you provided to Sri Lankans when they came to play Cricket ! Better to acknowledge the facts and act, rather than be in denial mode ! Secondly your self importance in sports has diminished very fast, and unlikely to change ever.
@Kafir Play sports like sports - GROW UP
HIL is purely a commercial venture like Indian Cricket League. Since Pakistan does not have preferential trade relations with India, Pakistani players have been kept out. Grant MFN status to India if you want to see Pakistani players in Indian leagues.
@TRUE Boy: Your illusions cost you half of the Nation, yet you people have not learned any lessons !
Pakistan should not have sent the team in the first place... they should have also started a propaganda of India's involvement in Balochistan ... its a pity out leadership is dumb.
@Aciest world hates us please do explain which country want to destroy us and doesn't want any friendship with us apart from india? Even israel want friendly relations with pakistan sri lanka is increasing its trade with us, Thailand PM visited pakistan and now wants to increase trade with us. Britain always supporting pakistan, Turkey consider us brother and always there to help us and have recently have decided to help us with many projects and China world second and soon be world first strong economy in the world is our best friends always supporting us and doing a lot of projects with pakistan. Please do explain name one country apart from india who hates pakistan? Its only indians who hates us because we stole their dream of forming great india which they dreamt after getting independence from british. Wonder why india hates two nation theory.
Pakistani's again started to beg. Look at their confusion they send terrorists, they fund terrorists in name of zakat. And ofcourse govt.
They break ceasfire violations, they live in "DENIAL MODE" after every war and terrorist attack. From their schools to tv's hate is fed day in and day out.
When India wants to keep out terrorists these people start crying and begging.... There is limit ,when'll we see thing called "self respect" from pakistanis ?? :D
GOOD WORK PAKISTAN ARMY ! Performing Dual job - Protecting PAKISTAN and INDIA TOO from Terrorist.
This is the real face of Bharat. No matter how strongly they try to hide the real face, it keeps on protruding in one way or the other. All this secularism will go down the drain if it doesn't believe in pluralism Time and again India did this to players and artists from Pakistan.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/594525/attack-on-art-silence-on-indian-front-decry-pakistani-artists/
@Aciest HMMM ENLIGHTNED INDIA ! We know the misery facing the common people in INDIA and BRAHAMN attitude towards MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, SIKHS & YOUR OWN DALAT
Just try to visit our capital ISLAMABAD - No Man will be sleeping on footpaths and on contrast SEE NEW DEHLI - Hundred Sleeping on Roads
Pakistan heading towards isolation.
@Trueboy
There has been huge revenue loss to PCB because you are not playing w India. That's why PCB has been begging. There should be financial consequences for your terrorism. Making you pay..
We are not shining, we are dirty and don't have toilets. Why you want to play hockey or cricket with India?
Pakistan deserves this kind of treatment.
Glad India took this stand, time for Pak to introspect and clear their conspiracy theory ridden minds... There is a reason why the world hates you, and yes jealousy can't be one of them because come on just look at where/who you are
@Satish: Why Pakistan participate in first place. Dont they know that Indians listen to their extremist parties more than any other nation.
@Junaid: What have done so far in relation to the culprits of Mumbai Massacre ? First you went into denial mode and eventually conceded that were your people and also developed a new term "Non State Actors" ! The problem is that in your Country, there is very thin line between this and reality, as this has always been part of policy to use elements and then go into denial mode ! The Global view of your Nation is not very good, and this tolerance will come to an end soon.
@rahul Pakistan is an OPEN PLACE for Artist and palyers - Our leader and vast majority of public do not act as your public and leader generally act i.e RECENT ADNAN SAMI CASE In our country's election people cast vote on the basis of parties Manifesto NOT on the basis of INDIAN ENEMITY i.e See your recent election compaigns - GET MATURED
India always remind me my chilhood "Go I wl not play with you"
Don't worry. pakistan don't need IHL, They have movie Like Waar to counter every thing form India and Bilal lashari with Shaan will create a bigger league than IHL.
This news isn't even worth publishing. Hate is all you can expect from India. Nothing New!!
@Hedgefunder: We agree that India is in no position to provide security of Pakistani Players - EVEN NOT CAPABLE TO GIVE SECURITY TO HIS HOMELAND and always urge Pakistan to provide GUARANTEE OF INDIA'S SECURITY
I am failed to see any of our pseudo liberal comments on Shiv Sena, which protested(threatened) the players. That is why they are pseudo and not real Liberals
Thank god.....no non state actor in India this time around...
Mr TRUE Boy .. Why you crying??. You guys made another nation saying you dont want to belong to India. Now your PCB,Singers,Hockey Team, etc etc want to come to India.
@Hedgefunder: If public opinion in India is bleak, wouldn't it be prudent to increase exposure to Pakistani's to counter the negative effect? Or would you rather things stay the way they are.
In any case, ET needs to stop emphasizing on such things - these are non-issues. The IHF is allowed to do whatever they want given that it is a domestic tournament. Only collective action by all hockey federations can have an effect - which is unlikely.
This is due to security reasons, as Pakistani players safety can not be guaranteed. The public opinion in India is pretty bleak against Pakistan, due all the Non Events that have taken place in recent times.
BE BRAVE INDIANS - Look your size, resources and population UNFAIR MEANS OF INDIA TO DEFEAT PAKISTAN IN SPORTS Despite of all your tricks to isolate Pakistan in Cricket; Pakistani Team recently beaten World No. 1 Test Cricket Team (S.A).
Good move Hockey India!! Appreciate..
Express Tribune team is pretty excited and happy to hear this news. Long Live India ( According to ET )
Aman ki Ashaa...
Thats the BEST the indians can DO... :)
Good. We aren't interested either. ET should get over it too.
Perfect, fail to understand why they were invited this year!!
Even if they invite we should stop participating. World Hockey Association should taken notice of this discrimination as well. Tournaments with this level of hatred should not be allowed to be organized. I know its a domestic league, but im sure it comes under international hockey federation in some level.
Pakistan must play with saudi and other muslim countries which are far better and richer than india.