Dhanraj disappointed but 'not surprised'

India's leading hockey player Dhanraj Pillay is disappointed but "not surprised" at not being included in the team for the World Cup qualifier at Edinburgh, Scotland..

The Indian Hockey Federation on Tuesday announced an 18-member team to do duty at the July 17 to 29 tournament and the mercurial forward's name was conspicuous by its absence from the list.

While releasing the team to media persons in Delhi, IHF chief KPS Gill and team coach Cedric D'Souza said Pillay was not considered for selection because he did not attend two of the three coaching camps for probables on account of injury.

"Yes, I had had withdrawn from the camp held in Bangalore due to a kee injury," Pillay said on Wednesday, when asked to comment on his omission from the team. However, he added: "I had sent a letter recently -- on the 25th -- to the IHF informing them that the knee is okay and I am now fit, but there was no reply from them."

The triple Olympian [1992 Barcelona Games, 1996 Atlanta Games and 2000 Sydney Games] and Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee felt experienced players like Olympians Mukesh Kumar, Mohammad Riaz and Sabu Varkey should have been included in the squad to provide stability to it.

He said, "Fitness is all in the mind. There are instances when players have come back from injury to represent the team and win tournaments for it.

"I can still say I am fitter than most of the players."

Wishing the team the very best, he said it has a good chance of doing well and qualifying for the World Cup.