MUMBAI: Will World Series Hockey go the Indian Cricket League way? That is a matter of conjecture but if one is to go by Hockey India?s new strategy of launching its own league, one can hardly disagree that the ?official? body is following in the footsteps of its cricket compatriot BCCI in ensuring that the WSH doesn?t take root.

HI, the sole recognised governing body of hockey in India, is planning to start its own domestic franchise league next year, which is expected to feature Indian as well as international players and would have the backing of world hockey governing body, FIH.

?We are already in talks with the FIH and things are nearing the final stage. Our league will be a permanent window on the annual international calendar. FIH will ensure that there will be no international action during that time. That means the best players from across the world will be free to participate in the league that will most likely be held in January-February 2013,? Indian Express quotes HI secretary Narinder Batra as saying.

Batra said that the HI will make an official announcement in a couple of days. Like WSH, the HI league will also have eight teams and will be launched next year. He also clarified that players wouldn?t be pressurised to join the league.

The move is clearly aimed at weaning away Indian players from the rival WSH by creating an alternative that is if the HI?s proposed league fructifies which none other than Nimbus will testify is easier said than done. However, it needs to be seen whether players who have signed contract with Nimbus will stay loyal or not.

For the record, the WSH is backed by Indian Hockey Federation, the erstwhile governing body of hockey in India before it was unceremoniously suspended on charges of corruption, and is marketed by Harish Thawani-promoted Nimbus Sport. The WSH involving eight city-based teams will begin 29 February and will run till 2 April.

The sword of instability still hangs over the WSH as the participation of Indian players who are currently part of the national team is still uncertain with the reports that the players are yet to receive payments that was supposed to be paid a week ahead of the tournament.

Nimbus has cleared the air by saying that players who turn up for the camps of their respective teams will get their payments as soon as they join.

"Those in the national team right now simply have to send in a letter confirming their participation in WSH and saying that they will join their respective teams after the Olympic qualifiers. The moment they join their teams, they will get their money,? Nimbus Sport COO YannickColaco told the paper.

MUMBAI: The Delhi High Court?s ruling notwithstanding, the International Hockey Federation Wednesday maintained its stance that the World Series Hockey remains an unsanctioned event.

The Delhi HC had on Monday ruled that the Indian players must be allowed to participate in the cash rich league provided it does not clash with their national commitments.

Talking to reporters at the launch of Hockey Olympic Qualifiers in Delhi, FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather reiterated that there was no question of granting recognition to the league since it is co-promoted by Indian Hockey Federation, which is not recognised by the world body.

?We have read the judgement and it actually reinforces the rules of FIH. As far as WSH is concerned, there is no change in our stance, it is an unsanctioned event because IHF is not a member of FIH,? Fairweather said.

?We have been clear about our position from the very beginning. The international calendar is packed. Where is the space? There are six qualification tournaments till the Olympics, which means there is international hockey every week,? he said.

He also questioned the commitment of players, who have signed up for the league, towards their national duties. ?Anyone planning to play six weeks of a private league before the Olympics is certainly not serious about the game.?

While affirming that the FIH and its national members will act against players who play for WSH, Fairweather hastened to add that participating or not was solely a player?s prerogative.

?The rules are very clear and we will go according to our rules. But at the end of the day the players need to make their own decision,? Fairweather stated.

?We can?t stop anyone from joining any team. That?s his or her personal decision. But our stance is pretty clear regarding WSH,? the FIH CEO maintained.
Meanwhile, debunking FIH CEO?s statement, Nimbus the commercial partner of IHF, has said that the WSH is a domestic event and does not clash with the players national commitments.

Nimbus COO Yannick Colaco said there are examples galore where national competitions and club-based leagues go hand-in-hand. He cited the example of African Nations Cup which is held even as club football was on in Europe.

?Even in cricket there are bilateral series (in other countries) when the IPL is being played in India. In WSH, 80 per cent would be Indian players. So where is the problem," he pointed out.

MUMBAI: The World Series Hockey got a major boost as the Delhi High Court Monday directed International Hockey Federation and its recognised body Hockey India to allow Indian players to participate in the league since it does not clash with their national duties.

The two-member bench comprising acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw were hearing a petition filed by former India hockey captain and coach Joacquim Carvalho seeking to restrain HI from banning players, who participate in the league.

Co-promoted by Nimbus Sport and Indian Hockey Federation, the WSH has been facing continuous onslaught from the FIH and HI, who have been threatening players of ban if they participate in the ?unsanctioned? tournament.

"We are of the opinion that the matter can be placed before the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in the same prospective as narrated by us in the judgment. Clarification can be sought from the FIH. At this time, the FIH can be impressed upon to sanction the event (WSH) if it is still required, more so, when the new dates to be fixed by the organisers are not in any way clashing with the schedule fixed by FIH for international events," the bench said.

It further added, "Domestic events can be arranged in such a manner that it does not come in conflict with preparatory camps or the period when the international events are going to be held."

The bench also ruled that regulations of HI restraining players? participation in WSH would apply "in respect of the commitments made after 31 March 2011", which was agreed by FIH as the cut-off date for all players to participate in the league.

The franchise-based league will be held from 29 February to 2 April featuring eight teams. The organisers, who have finalised owners of five franchises, are yet to announce the owners of three more teams namely Punjab, Chandigarh and Bhopal.
The tournament was originally scheduled to kick off from 17 December to 22 January but had to be reworked to avoid a clash with Hockey Olympic qualifiers, which will be held from 18-26 February in Delhi involving six teams each in men?s and women?s category.

Boasting of a total prize money of $2 million, the WSH will be telecast on Neo Sports.

MUMBAI: The scheduled second round of the player draft for World Series Hockey was held yesterday, with each team strengthening their squads from the pool of players.

In this draft, players from Australia, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, South Africa and India were picked by the various franchises.

Among the notable picks of the day, Canadian captain Ken Pereira was chosen by Pune Strykers while Australian Mark Harris and Indian Hamza Mujtaba got selected by Chennai Cheetahs. South African Olympian Clyde Abraham was picked by Mumbai Marines while Gagan Ajit Singh, the ace Indian striker, will make his comeback into hockey with Sher-e-Punjab.

The first season of WSH starts on the 29 February.

WSH event director Preeti Pariat Mehta said, "All the 8 franchises have teams to last an entire season with tough competition for spots in the starting XI. This will ensure that the quality of hockey in the first edition will remain top-notch from start to finish and is fantastic news for the league and our fans."

MUMBAI: World Series Hockey has signed a host of internationals from Canada and South Africa.

The signed players are Clive Terwin, Geowynne Kyle Gamiet, Lungile Tsolekile & Shanyl Balwanth from South Africa; Adam Froese, Antoni Kindler, Iain Smythe, Mark Pearson, Ken Pereira, Richard Hildred & Sukhwinder Singh Gabbar from Canada.

The line up from the African and North American regions includes a current international captain and a set of players who have played close to 800 international matches amongst them.

Ken Pereira, captain of the Canadian hockey team and one of the 7 Canadian players on the WSH roster, said, "World Series Hockey is a huge platform to raise the profile of our sport globally. With the diverse mix of international players in the fray, this is a tournament that is truly global. India is a great place to play, the fans are really passionate about the sport. I have some good memories from playing in the WC and CWG in 2010."

Lungile Tsolekile, a forward and one of the 4 South Africans players in WSH, said, ?It?s a great opportunity to be able to play in a tournament of the stature of WSH. For all of my South African counterparts, it is going to be a fantastic learning experience playing with a host of international stars on the same team. World Series Hockey will see a face-off between the best players from around the world and I am proud to be a part of this esteemed event".

Nimbus Sport deputy general manager Karl Da Costa said, "With the signing of international players from the African and North American regions, World Series Hockey continues to build a pool of diverse global talent. The league will definitely engage fans with different styles of hockey merging to provide spectacular entertainment.?

The WSH will be held from 29 February to 2 April and will involve 200 leading players -- Indian and international -- who will showcase their talent in 59 matches. The 8 venues for the inaugural edition of the league are Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Jalandhar, Mumbai and Pune.

MUMBAI: The organisers of World Series Hockey have announced the schedule for inaugural edition of the professional hockey to be held from 29 February - 2 April.

The hockey league, involving 59 matches with as many as 56 league matches besides two semis and a final, will kick-start with the Chandigarh Comets taking Bhopal Badshahs on their home venue, Chandigarh.

The organisers have planned a grand opening ceremony preceding the inaugural game in Chandigarh.

In order to grab maximum eyeballs, all the matches will be played during prime time. The league stage will have two matches a day at 7 pm and 9 pm.

The top four teams from the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals to be held on April 1 at 6 pm and 8.30 PM. The venues for the semi-final and the final match have not been finalised.

The grand final will be held on April 2 at 8.30 pm, and the finalist with a higher seed from the league stage will host this game. The league will have four off-days on 13, 18, 22 and 31 March, a day before the crucial semi-final will be held.

WSH technical director Dennis Meredith said, ?The schedule was drawn up in sync with international tournament guidelines for adequate rest to the players and technical officials between matches. This ensures that the standard of hockey in WSH is top-notch at all times and will be an absolute treat for fans.?

Nimbus Sport COO Yannick Colaco said, ?All stakeholders have been taken into consideration while planning the WSH schedule. Floodlit matches in the evenings will provide the passionate hockey fans with an electrifying environment. With all the matches played at prime time, fans will be able to enjoy world class hockey after they?re back home. This is the first time the passionate Indian fans will have access to world class hockey for 34 days of non-stop prime time action.?

The WSH was launched in 2010 by Indian Hockey Federation in partnership with Nimbus Sport, which holds the commercial rights for the tournament.

With less than a month to go for WSH to start, Nimbus is still to officially announce the franchise owners for Bhopal, Chandigarh and Punjab.

Neo Sports Broadcast, a subsidiary of Nimbus, will telecast the matches on its Neo Sports channel. The tournament offers a record prize money of Rs 100 million.