The world cup captain, who couldn’t play in the world cup 

By Saurabh Duggal

If not for the rising political tension between India and Pakistan over declaration of East Pakistan's independence (now Bangladesh), Pakistan would have hosted the inaugural edition of the World Cup in 1971 and Olympic medallist Col Balbir Singh would have led the Indian side in the first World Cup.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation floated the idea of the men’s World Cup in 1969, and the world body, FIH, accepted it. The trophy, designed by Bashir Moojid, was commissioned by the Pakistan Army. FIH allotted the inaugural World Cup to Pakistan.  

In January 1971, India announced its World Cup squad with Col Balbir Singh as captain and the team even played an exhibition match against Northern Railways at a jam-packed Jammu stadium.

By then tension between India and Pakistan was rising over Bangladesh’s declaration of independence. Opposition leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto threatened his supporters would set the hockey field on fire if the Indian hockey team played in Pakistan. This led to a postponement and the venue was shifted to Barcelona.

“Pakistan’s relations with India at that time cost Lahore the opportunity to host the inaugural World Cup,” recalls 1968 Mexico Olympic medallist Col Balbir Singh. “Had the inaugural World Cup been hosted by Lahore as scheduled, I would have played in it. After that health issues forced me to stay away and I couldn’t be considered for Spain.”

In March 1971, Col Balbir Singh led the Services team to lift the prestigious Bombay Gold Cup and the very next month he was adjudged best ‘half back’ in the National Championship. During the domestic tournament he had a ligament injury in his left knee.   

Before the Barcelona World Cup, the Indian team was to play a test series in Singapore. But it was Col Bablir Singh’s hard luck that a stomach ache forced him to skip the trials and he eventually missed the Singapore tour and later because of his knee injury he was not considered for the inaugural 1971 World Cup. Col Balbir Singh played his last international match against touring West Germany in March 1972.