The players' auction of the fourth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) will be held here on September 17.
New Delhi: The players' auction of the fourth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) will be held here on September 17.
ADVERTISEMENT
The six franchises will bid for players from India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, England, South Africa, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Scotland, Malaysia, Japan and South Korea.
Earlier in August, HIL had provided all the franchises the option to retain up to three Indian and foreign players each while releasing the rest of the squad. A total of 277 players are listed for the auction and among them 135 are Indians and 142 foreigners.
Under the new regulations, franchises can build a team of 20 players which allows each franchise to have 12 Indians and eight foreign.
Defending champions Ranchi Rays retained its full quota of six players including captain Ashley Jackson along with Barry Middleton and Fergus Kavanagh. The three Indians retained are Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra and Kothajit Singh.
Last edition's runner-up team Jaypee Punjab Warriors will be eyeing the most suitable nine Indians and five foreign players who will help complete the line-up.
With the release of Jaap Stockmann, the franchise will also have to get a goalkeeper as agile and as world class as him. For the upcoming auction, the Warriors have a purse of $472,500 while they have already spent $252,500 on the retained players.
The Warriors had held back the entire quota of their six players including S.V. Sunil along with Satbir Singh and Varun Kumar. The foreign players retained are three Australians -- Chris Ciriello, Mark Knowles and Jacob Whetton.
Last season's debutants Dabang Mumbai held back only three players and released the rest of the squad, including Tom Boon. Retaining Harmanpreet Singh was expected and was the ideal choice. He is the only Indian retained along with two foreigners -- David Harte and Jeremy Hayward.
With a kitty of $563,000, Dabang Mumbai have to pick 11 Indians and six foreigners while they have already spent $162,000 on the three retained players.
Delhi Waveriders also held back their quota of six players including Simon Child, Tristan White and Steven Edwards along with Indians Talwinder Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki and Surender Kumar.
To bid for nine Indians and five foreigners, the franchise is left with $514,000 after spending $211,000 on the six retained players.
Kalinga Lancers have already decided to hold back Devindar Walmiki, Lalit Upadhyay and Gurjinder Singh. The franchise also retained goalkeeper Andrew Charter along with Aran Zalewski. They are left with $520,000 for the auction.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards held on to P.R. Sreejesh, Ramandeep Singh, V.R. Raghunath, Jolie Wouter and Edward Ockenden while releasing the rest of the team. Having spent $284,000, the franchise has a kitty of $441,000 to pick up their remaining 15 players.
The bids will be conducted by renowned auctioneer Bob Hayton of London.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
