India Retains the Hockey Captain

There were no major surprises in the 18-member squad which was finalised after the trials attended by the selectors and the team's coaching staff.

But just before the team was formally announced, the name of Prabhjot Singh was doing the rounds for captaincy while four vice-captains were also being talked about for the high-profile event to be held at the renovated Dhyan Chand Stadium from February 28 to March 13.

Surprisingly, sources in Hockey India and also in the team initially said that Parbhjot has been appointed captain.

The official release from Hockey India, however, clarified that Rajpal would lead the side and there was no vice-captain at all. Three players have been kept as standbyes.

Chief coach Jose Brasa wanted Prabhjot as skipper but was overruled by the selection panel, according to sources.

Team sources said Brasa wanted Prabhjot as captain, besides four vice-captains in the squad.

Besides Brasa, the selection panel comprises B P Govinda, Madhu Yadav, Sita Mehta (all selectors), Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar Iqbal (government nominees) and national coach Harinder Singh.

A player in the squad on the condition of anonymity told PTI that just before the selection meeting Brasa had told some senior players that Prabhjot would be the skipper and four vice-captains would also be named.

The selectors, however, retained Rajpal Singh as skipper in the 18-member squad for the high profile February 28-March 13 event. There was no vice-captain at all in the list of 18 players who figured in the release issued by Hockey India.

"Just before the selection meeting today, Brasa had come to talk to some senior players including me and he told us that Prabhjot would be the captain and there would be four vice-captains," the player said.

"After that I don't know what happened. I can't talk about the selection matters but Brasa had told us Prabhjot will be the skipper," he added.

Meanwhile, S V Sunil, who suffered a knee injury, has not been included in the squad which will take on arch rivals Pakistan in its opening match on February 28.

The squad has two goalkeepers in Adrian D'Souza and P R Sreejesh, three defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards.

Ace drag flicker and former captain Sandeep Singh who has been recovering from an injury has been included in the squad.

Apart from Rajpal, Shivendra Singh, Tushar Khandker, Prabhjot Singh, Sarwanjit Singh, Deepak Thakur and Gurvinder Singh Chandi are the other forwards.