All is not lost for banned national midfielder Gurbaj Singh!
Indian men’s hockey team star midfielder Gurbaj Singh may be serving a nine-month ban for indulging in ‘misbehaviour and groupism in the team’ but it is not as if there is no light at the end of the tunnel as the Punjab and Haryana High Court has acted on the civil writ petition on his ban and taken cognisance of the fact that Gurbaj has been handed a raw deal by Hockey India.
Senior advocate Sardar Puran Singh Hundal, who has taken up the case for Gurbaj, has reasons to be optimistic about Gurbaj’s return to the national fold. “We are waiting for the honourable court to make their judgement but we are optimistic about the case going in Gurbaj’s favour as there is no provision in Hockey India’s code of conduct for players, which states that a player can be banned from all forms of hockey for such a long period. It only states that a player can banned for two or three games for any misbehaviour.
Advocate Hundal does not agree that Gurbaj has resorted to any unbecoming behaviour. “I’m 99% confident of Gurbaj making a comeback to the national side. He is a senior player. The honourable court has clearly said that complaining about poor food does not amount to indiscipline or misbehaviour as asking for quality food at camps is a player’s right. Nor has he indulged in any groupism.”
Clearly, Gurbaj appears to be on a strong wicket to win this case and return to the side, although Hockey India has questioned the jurisdiction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court as the act was committed in New Delhi. In fact, the judge has categorically stated that “somebody in the system is against Hockey India”, which gives enough indication that the Indian midfielder is all set to get the thumbs up from the court.
Is there any chance of Hockey India moving the Supreme Court in case the Punjab and Haryana High Court rules in Gurbaj’s favour? “I don’t think so. Hockey India has no code of conduct in place for handing out such lengthy bans. So, they will be not in a position to take it up further,” advocate Hundal observes.
The latest court proceedings must be great news for Indian hockey fans, who want to see this crafty midfielder serve the country.