Three Players of Ranchi Rhinos have been replaced for the upcoming Hockey India league’s (HIl) second season beginning from January 25. The team’s CEO Banti Singh on Wednesday informed that Fergus Kavanagh of Australia and Nick Wilson of New Zealand have been replaced by Spanish players Marc Salles and Eduard Arbos due to injury.
Speaking about the third player Singh said that Barry Middleton has been replaced instead of a Pakistan player. He said that the fee of the Spanish hockey players is USD17500 while the Middleton is hired at a fee of USD53000. Rhinos were the winner of the HIl-1 held last year.
The team is expected to arrive at Ranchi on January 20 morning by Jet flight after playing an exhibition hockey match at Calcutta to pay homage to the greatest legendary hockey star of the country leslie Claudius, on his first death anniversary.
Claudius played four Olympics and won three Gold medals and one Silver medal at Rome Olympic as Captain. He expired on December 20 in 2012. According to sources it was a good gesture of Ranchi Rhinos owners to specially invite the team at Calcutta for the said event. Ranchi will host the first match of the league on January 26. The Semi Finals and Finals of this game concluding on February 23 are also scheduled here apart from number of league matches.