The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday announced the schedule for the inaugural Pro League, a home-and-away competition that will feature nine teams each in both men's and women's hockey.
The first match in the men's competition will see Spain hosting Belgium on January 19, 2019. The last of the regular 144 league matches will feature Great Britain against New Zealand in the men's section on June 23, with a Grand Final scheduled in the Netherlands for later in the month involving the top four teams.
The Pro League made news in 2017 as India chose to withdraw both their men's and women's teams after initially being announced among the nine sides. India's continued omission comes despite FIH CEO Jason McCracken's suggestion in December on the sidelines of the World League Final in Bhubaneswar that "the door is open now" for India to feature in the Pro League as early as in 2019.
What is the Pro League?
It is a home-and-away league to be played across six months by nine teams in both men's and women's hockey, with each team playing once at home and once away. This will make for 144 league games, following which the top four teams in each category will proceed to the Grand Final.
The top four teams in Olympic and World Cup years will qualify directly for the corresponding event in that league cycle, though there is no confirmation whether the 2019 League standings will be considered for the 2020 Olympics.
Game changer?
It is a courageous move but sensible considering that it will effectively replace the latter stages of the World League, which used to be played in four stages on a biennial basis between 2013 and 2017. It seeks to add more relevance to bilateral hockey contests, though Test series as they currently occur will continue outside the dates of the Pro League. It should certainly help to spread the game to more markets and countries, especially with broadcast planned for every match played in the league.
The league's biggest challenge will be in avoiding a conflict with the peak of the European club leagues, most of which run all the way till June and are the main source of income for players from around the world. With the Pro League's financial model currently leaving it to federations to finance their matches, it is unlikely that players will turn down lucrative club contracts to play for their country. As such, it might mean reopening the club versus country debates in global hockey.
The Hockey India League (HIL) also takes place around this time, but it is not scheduled for this year and is likely to be pushed back to the end of 2019.
Which countries are part of it?
The men's competition features Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan (who will play their home matches in Scotland for security reasons) and Spain, who have stepped in for India.
The women's side will have Argentina, Australia, Belgium (stepping in for India), China, England, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and the US.
Why aren't India there?
India were named among the teams in both competitions, but pulled out citing apprehensions that the women's team might not finish in the top four and might miss out on Olympic qualification. That India's withdrawal came amid reports of an uneasy relationship between the FIH officials and their Indian president, Narinder Batra, had raised speculations about the Indian federation's motives in pulling out, especially after agreeing at first.
How will India's absence affect the league?
India's pullout from the Pro League last year had led to criticism from former players and hockey experts, especially since it affects the league's ability to attract sponsors. It also robs hockey of the biggest draw in terms of rivalries: India versus Pakistan. Media attention, too, will be affected with no Indian presence.
What do India play instead of the PL?
The World League continues in its first two rounds, and there's also something called the Hockey Series Open being planned. Teams advancing from these stages of competitions will be eligible to compete for Olympic and World Cup qualification, besides the usual ways of qualifying -- winning continental hockey events such as the Asian Games and Asia Cup.
There won't be any dearth of tournaments, but India might find quality opponents harder to come by on a regular basis if the Pro League takes off in its first season.