Gurbaj Singh is not pleading guilty for the offence he is charged with, which has cost him a place in the Indian men's hockey team's tour of Europe. Instead, a peeved Gurbaj has appealed the authorities to tell on what basis he has been accused of indiscipline and groupism.
The star midfielder's name was missing in the squad Hockey India announced on Monday, which was expected after the Harbinder Singh-led Special Committee reported Gurbaj for creating disharmony in the team during the FIH World League semi-finals in Belgium.
But the right-half, who has an experience of over 200 international caps, is rightfully asking for reasons when the team, including captain Sardar Singh, is standing with him on the issue.
"I would like to meet the Special Committee or Hockey India president to at least know where I am wrong and on what basis I have been reported for groupism and who thinks I am doing those things," a distressed Gurbaj told IBNLive from Shilaroo where the team's fitness camp will conclude on Tuesday.
The team will fly to Europe where an extended 21-member squad will play matches against France and Spain from August 3 to 13.
Gurbaj, who was reported for a similar offence in 2012, sounded hurt and asked if none of the team members have a problem with him, then from where does the question of creating disharmony come.
Sardar, Oltmans support Gurbaj
"The whole team is standing with me, even the [new] coach Roelant Oltmans who had a meeting with me and Sardar after returning from Delhi," Gurbaj said.
"Oltmans told me that he has no problem with me, it's the committee that has reported me and that I should have a meeting with the committee members or Hockey India to explain my stance. Even Sardar said during the meeting that he finds nothing wrong in my behaviour."
Sreejesh calls Gurbaj "fantastic"
Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh is one of the pillars of the current team and a very respected and highly rated custodian in world hockey. As a team-mate, he too finds nothing wrong with the way Gurbaj conducts himself.
"He is a fantastic player, one of the best in the team. As a co-player, I find nothing wrong in his behaviour," Sreejesh spoke over the phone from Shilaroo.
"I can't comment on the charges against him; for that you should ask the committee or Hockey India," he said, adding that I can only speak as Gurbaj's team-mate.
Gurbaj's former captain Rajpal shocked
Earlier, Gurbaj's former captain Rajpal Singh came out in the midfielder's defence, saying that he has never found him indisciplined.
"I have played with Gurbaj for more than five years and for two years I was his captain, but not even once I found him indisciplined. In fact, in today's team, I would rank him among the top four-five players," Rajpal told IBNLive.
Rajpal had, in fact, predicted that Gurbaj will be dropped for the European tour, but he said there is no way such a talented player can be asked to sit out of the Olympics.
"I don't think Gurbaj is out of reckoning for the Olympics. At most, he will be dropped for a foreign tour. But if I were to be asked, I won't leave him out of the team because he is a fantastic player and I don't think he is indisciplined," Rajpal said.
Not touring, Gurbaj will have some time off to sort this out with Hockey India, and he is keen to do that sooner than later.
"I will call up Hockey India soon to fix a meeting as I am not included in the squad [for Europe tour]," he said. "I am completely focused on representing my country at the Rio Olympics, and I am fully committed to play to the best of my ability."
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