After a day of speculation and dramatic developments, it was business as usual in the Hockey India League (HIL) on Wednesday following the departure of the nine Pakistani players for home.
Six of the Pakistani recruits hired by different HIL teams left from here on an evening flight on Wednesday, while three others, who were stationed at Jalandhar, left for their country through the Attari-Wagah border near Amritsar.
All this happened before the first match of the day between Jaypee Punjab Warriors and Ranchi Rhinos was played at Jalandhar.
The mood was relaxed at the National Stadium here as Delhi Waveriders took on Mumbai Magicians in its second outing. Various team owners adopted a cautious approach as media persons continued with their effort to track the development through the day.
Despite being hit hard by the exclusion of its four Pakistani imports, Magicians looked a spirited unit under the guidance of its coach Ric Charlesworth, who had vowed on Tuesday that his team would give a keen contest in its first match even though it would be left without some of its key players.
The team had no choice but to name all of its 20 players in the line-up for the match as the HIL format allowed such a procedure.
