<p> Shivender was found guilty of deliberately raising his stick, causing injury to Pakistan’s Fareed Ahmed during their Pool B match on Sunday. As per the FIH tournament guidelines, it comes as a level 2 offence – physical assault without serious injury.<br /><br />India have appealed the suspension and the verdict of the jury is expected on Tuesday morning. <br /><br />If the suspension stays, Shivender will miss the matches against Australia (March 2), Spain (March 4) and England (March 6), dealing a big blow to the team.<br />The incident happened in the 39th minute when Shivender successfully tackled Fareed and moved past on a counterattack. As he ran ahead, Shivender’s stick hit Fareed on the face, causing a cut above the eye.<br /><br />Though umpire John Wright had waved off Fareed’s protests during the game, tournament director Ken Read later viewed the video and pronounced his verdict after hearing Shivender and also interviewing Fareed.<br /><br />“Shivendra argued at the hearing that the stick was lifted when he put his second hand on it and it was accidental. He said he had no intention to hit Fareed and just wanted to run faster and for that, he wanted to hold his stick with both hands,” Read said. “I reject this argument. There was no reason for the stick to be where it was. I find that the stick was deliberately raised and the behaviour of Shivender was reckless as to the safety of Fareed.”<br /><br />Read also rejected the Indian pleas that Shivender had played 110 games for India since making his debut in 2006 without ever being suspended. “I was told that he has not had single card in his career and he is a disciplined player on and off the field.<br /><br />“The guidelines suggest a minimum two-match suspension but in my view, this is not a case to apply minimum. A four-match suspension is appropriate but looking at the history of the player, I decided to give him a three-match suspension,” said Read.<br /><br />The tournament director also imposed a one-match suspension on Pakistan’s Irfan Mohammad for wearing a long gauntlet type glove and a knee pad to defend a penalty corner, which was against the rules. Pakistan team manager Asif Bajwa was severely reprimanded for the violation.<br /><br /></p>
<p> Shivender was found guilty of deliberately raising his stick, causing injury to Pakistan’s Fareed Ahmed during their Pool B match on Sunday. As per the FIH tournament guidelines, it comes as a level 2 offence – physical assault without serious injury.<br /><br />India have appealed the suspension and the verdict of the jury is expected on Tuesday morning. <br /><br />If the suspension stays, Shivender will miss the matches against Australia (March 2), Spain (March 4) and England (March 6), dealing a big blow to the team.<br />The incident happened in the 39th minute when Shivender successfully tackled Fareed and moved past on a counterattack. As he ran ahead, Shivender’s stick hit Fareed on the face, causing a cut above the eye.<br /><br />Though umpire John Wright had waved off Fareed’s protests during the game, tournament director Ken Read later viewed the video and pronounced his verdict after hearing Shivender and also interviewing Fareed.<br /><br />“Shivendra argued at the hearing that the stick was lifted when he put his second hand on it and it was accidental. He said he had no intention to hit Fareed and just wanted to run faster and for that, he wanted to hold his stick with both hands,” Read said. “I reject this argument. There was no reason for the stick to be where it was. I find that the stick was deliberately raised and the behaviour of Shivender was reckless as to the safety of Fareed.”<br /><br />Read also rejected the Indian pleas that Shivender had played 110 games for India since making his debut in 2006 without ever being suspended. “I was told that he has not had single card in his career and he is a disciplined player on and off the field.<br /><br />“The guidelines suggest a minimum two-match suspension but in my view, this is not a case to apply minimum. A four-match suspension is appropriate but looking at the history of the player, I decided to give him a three-match suspension,” said Read.<br /><br />The tournament director also imposed a one-match suspension on Pakistan’s Irfan Mohammad for wearing a long gauntlet type glove and a knee pad to defend a penalty corner, which was against the rules. Pakistan team manager Asif Bajwa was severely reprimanded for the violation.<br /><br /></p>
