Pakistani players should participate in HIL, says Dhanraj Pillay

EX-INDIA captain and Hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay has called out for the participation of Pakistani players in the Hockey India League (HIL). He also advised the league officials to develop and improve the quality of sport in India by setting up academies.

Pillay insisted that the sporting body should have taken permission from the politicians to allow Pakistan to be a part of the tournament. 

"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 told PTI in an exclusive interview in Bengaluru.

Pillay is in Bengaluru to guide the Air India team in the second edition of the Bengaluru Cup that is being played at the Hockey stadium, a PTI report said.

Pillay also said that the root of the problem was the refusal of Pakistani players to apologize for their misconduct, which led to their ban. 

"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. 

Last year, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) banned two Pakistani players for a match each after Pakistan's victory in the Champions Trophy semi-final against India. In the aftermath of the win, the Pakistani players removed their shirts, danced in celebration and made obscene gestures towards the crowd.  

Asked about the development of hockey academies in India, Pillay said that the HIL authorities need to set up new acadmies to breed young talent in the country.

"The HIL authorities should give some money for setting up of academies to breed young talents and bring them onto the world stage," he said. 

"We had appointed Roelant Oltmans as the High Performance Director, but did not give any grassroot programme for developing and improving the sport in India. 

"Oltman was aiming only at the established players whether they were playing for a junior, sub-junior, Under-21 or senior team. He slowly spread his wings, came closer to Hockey India official, and now he is been appointed as India Hockey Coach," he added.