A total of 135 Indian and 142 foreign players will go under the hammer when the players auction for the fourth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) gets underway at city hotel here on September 17.
The six franchisee will bid for players from India, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, England, South Africa, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Scotland, Malaysia, Japan and Korea to complete their teams.
Earlier in August this year, HIL had provided all the franchisees the option to retain upto three Indian and as many foreign players, while releasing the rest of the squad.
A total of 276 players are listed for the auction and among them, 135 players are from India and 142 players belong to other leading hockey nations.
Under the new rules and regulations, franchisees can build a team of 20 players, which allows each franchisee to have 12 Indian players and 8 foreign players.
Defending champions Ranchi Rays retained its total quota of six players, including team captain Ashley Jackson along with Barry Middleton and Fergus Kavanagh. The three Indian players retained by the team include Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra and Kothajit Singh.
On the other hand last year's runners-up Jaypee Punjab Warriors will be eyeing for the most suitable nine Indian and five foreign players.
With the release of Jaap Stockmann the franchisee will also have to get a goalkeeper as agile and as world class as the Dutchman.
Punjab Warriors has a pocket of USD 472,500, while they have already spent USD 252,500 on the players that they have retained for the upcoming season.
