Gagan Ajit

Chandigarh: Stars Gagan Ajit Singh and Deepak Thakur are likely to remain out of the Indian hockey team, for apparently different reasons, as the team prepares for the Champions Trophy in Lahore and even as two preparatory home Tests were announced versus Spain.

The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Wednesday said the team that played the recent Friendship Series versus Pakistan will be retained. IHF president K. P. S. Gill said the aim was to retain the young team, that had fetched ?unexpected? results against Pakistan.

?Gagan was not there in the team that played against Pakistan,? Gill told reporters when asked specifically if the forward?s career was nearing an end.

The Punjab player was not picked for the eight-match Test series in October despite reporting fit, adding meat to the view that there has been a fall-out with the IHF, developing after the Athens Olympic Games, and this might lead to the premature curtailment of this star scorer?s career.

The IHF chief also made it clear that there would be no place in the team for veterans Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon. ?There is no question of taking Pillay back into the team. I don?t think Baljit has a chance either,? Gill said.

Meanwhile, the IHF also announced Olympic semi-finalists Spain?s two-Test series in Chandigarh later this month. The matches will be on November 28 and 30 at the Sector-42 Stadium. Interestingly, the matches will be officiated by Pak umpires Rashid Mahmood Butt and Syed Zulfiqar Haider. (PTI)