rediff.com
rediff.com
Cricket
      HOME | SPORTS | REUTERS | NEWS
July 13, 2001

news
columns
interviews
slide shows
archives
search rediff

Reuters
 Search the Internet
         Tips
 Other sports sites

E-Mail this report to a friend

Print this page

Dhanraj axed for Malaysian tournament

Top striker Dhanraj Pillay has been dropped from the national squad for a Malaysian tournament in August after refusing to attend a camp because of his fears over security in the troubled Jammu and Kashmir state.

Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K P S Gill said on Friday that the player would not be selected for the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Kuala Lumpur, which starts on August 2, after refusing to travel to the training camp in Jammu.

"No, he will not be selected," Gill said, adding that the IHF had turned down Pillay's request for a change in venue for the camp, which began on Monday and will run until July 30.

Dhanraj Pillay Pillay, a veteran of three Olympics, had told the IHF he faced a threat from a Pakistan-based guerrilla group, Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Local media reports said that police had received information about a threat to the former national captain from the group.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba is one of about a dozen militant groups fighting Indian rule in the disputed Kashmir region. Its members have launched suicide attacks on Indian security camps in Kashmir over the past few months.

Asked whether the 32-year-old striker would never be selected for India duty in the future, Gill said: "We'll see. After Azlan Shah, the Afro-Asian Games is there in November (in New Delhi)."

The IHF secretary K Jothikumaran said Pillay's security fears were unfounded.

"He made a request, but all the boys are put up in police and paramilitary hostels in Jammu town and from the security point of view, there won't be any threat," he said over phone from the southern city of Madras.

Pillay, who made his international debut over a decade ago, led India to gold at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and played at last year's Sydney Olympics.

The player has been involved in controversy in the past. He was among six prominent players axed for dissidence on the team's triumphant return from Bangkok.

He was also left out of the World Cup qualifying tournament starting in Edinburgh on Tuesday, the IHF citing a knee injury to Pillay and the player claiming he had told officials he had recovered fitness and was available for selection.

Also read:
Pillay stays away from Jammu camp
Jammu is not safe to train now: Pillay

Back to top
(c) Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
Mail Sports Editor

NEWS | MONEY | SPORTS | MOVIES | CHAT | CRICKET | SEARCH | RAIL/AIR | NEWSLINKS
ASTROLOGY | BROADBAND | CONTESTS | E-CARDS | ROMANCE | WOMEN | WEDDING
SHOPPING | BOOKS | MUSIC | HOMEPAGES | FREE EMAIL| MESSENGER | FEEDBACK