Hockey India signs pact with Australian counterpart

IANS
India will play Australia 18 times a year

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS): The Indian hockey team will tour Australia to play Test series' for the next three years, starting 2016, following a bilateral agreement between Hockey India (HI) and Hockey Australia (HA) signed here Saturday.

As part of the agreement, HA will release its national squad for the cash-rich Hockey India League (HIL) for the next three editions. HI chief executive officer (CEO) Elena Norman and HA CEO Cam Vale completed the formalities at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium.

"We know that the Australians are world champions and India has proved itself to be a formidable team in the last year. We are happy with the commitment of HA to release its players for the next three seasons," Norman said.

Australia is the biggest contributor to HIL after India. In 2015, 22 'Kookaburras' competed in the third edition of the competition.