India's field hockey chiefs on Tuesday refused to rule out sacking the entire World Cup squad if the players do not end their strike over a pay row and return to training. "It (suspension) is an option," Hockey India's ad hoc president Ashok Mattoo told AFP.
"But I am confident it won't come to that. We will talk to the players and sort matters. Maybe they are being misled." The 22-man squad for next month's World Cup in New Delhi stopped training at their camp in the western city of Pune last week and refused to return to the field until their demands were met.
A truce reached in New Delhi on Saturday after six players flew down for talks with Hockey India officials collapsed within 24 hours as the squad hardened its stand. Mattoo and other Hockey India officials arrived in Pune on Tuesday for further meetings with the players, amid speculation the squad had been given a 24-hour deadline to end their strike.
"I thought everything was sorted out on Saturday," said Mattoo, who heads Hockey India's ad hoc committee after the elected body was sacked last year for alleged financial irregularities. "We do not have the sort of money the players are asking for. And even if we give in to their demands, the decision could be overturned by the new office-bearers who take over next month."
Hockey India elections will be held on February 7, barely three weeks ahead of the 12-nation World Cup at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi from February 28 to March 13. The players are demanding what they said were outstanding dues of 25,000 rupees (555 dollars) each, performance-related bonuses and graded contracts with monthly salaries.
India, once the masters of the game with eight Olympic titles, failed to qualify for the Beijing Games last year and earned a direct World Cup berth only by virtue of being the hosts. They won the Sultan Azlan Shah invitation tournament in Malaysia last year and finished third behind New Zealand and Pakistan in the Champions Challenge event in Argentina.
Team India goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza told the "Hindu" newspaper from Pune on Tuesday the entire squad was united in its fight against the administration. "I feel this is the moment for us to do something towards a better future for youngsters wanting to play hockey," D'Souza said, adding the protest before the World Cup was not unjustified. "Last year we were told about cash incentives for international victories.
The announcements were made orally. Now we want the specifics in writing. It is all we are asking. "Before the team left for Argentina, a letter from the players was handed over. But nothing happened when we returned. We then set a January 8 deadline for an official response, and then stopped training." D'Souza said the squad was ready for further discussions with Hockey India officials.
"We are better prepared now to talk issues out," he said. Former India captain Pargat Singh said the players' demands were justified, but castigated them for going on strike. "The players have been asking for better facilities and payments for a long time," said Pargat "But going on strike is not the way to do it. Our World Cup should not suffer."