PUNE: Hockey India has formed a five-member committee to look into the gradation system as had been demanded by the players.

This was one of the demands put forth by the players who had rebelled last month and had refused to participate in the camp at Balewadi in Pune in preparation for the World Cup.

Hockey India’s announcement to form the panel comes just a couple of weeks before the World Cup which is scheduled to commence in New Delhi from 28 February.

Former India player and now Hockey India director (planning) Jagbir Singh has been named convener of the committee which will have ex-captain Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal, MP Ganesh and Dhanraj Pillay as members, an HI statement said.

The statement said the captains and national coaches of both the men's and women's teams would also be the members of the committee, while the president and secretary general of HI will be special invitees in the panel. The panel will look into the gradation system of not only the senior and junior men's national team members but also their female counterparts.