JOIN USForced to stay out of the inaugural Hockey India League (HIL) because of diplomatic tensions between the two countries, Pakistani players are likely to feature in the second edition of the franchise-based event to be held from January 23 to February 23 next year.
“Unlike IPL, the Pakistani players, who have been signed by different franchises for a three-year tenure, are free to play in HIL 2, provided there are no diplomatic issues between the two neighbouring nations,” a Hockey India source said.
“We have already asked all national federations, including Pakistan to send us No Objection Certificates of their players by October 31. There is still three months left for the deadline to end,” the source told PTI.
“It was unfortunate not to allow them to play in HIL 1 but if the situation in the lead-up to next year’s tournament is normal, we are expecting them to play in HIL 2,” he added.
Nine players from across the border were supposed to play in the inaugural HIL earlier this year.
But the simmering tension on the Indo-Pak border over the killing of Indian soldiers and subsequent protests by right-wing organisations had forced Hockey India to send back the Pakistani players without playing a single match.