The ProKabaddi League has a weight limit of 85kg for the players, Indian or foreign, in an attempt to get a right mix of power and pace. Weigh-ins are conducted regularly and any participant over the limit is removed from competition.
Behind the scenes, the league also has another system in place as a preventive measure to make sure players are aware of the perils of passing on team/individual information to strangers, communication with outsiders without permission via person-to-person contact, phone calls or posts on social media.
Integrity officers
The league has an Integrity Officer for each of the eight teams, travelling with the squad. Teams have their own set-up and ‘don’t do’ rules. The joint effort is directed at preventing the league and performers from getting entangled in corruption issues which hurt other sporting leagues in India.
U Mumba, for example, appointed ex-rugby international Sandeep Singh, as one of the team managers. He said, “Sessions are held every week on tour, to remind players and support staff about things they should not be doing, or not allowed without alerting me.”
The ex-army man and former hammer thrower, whose brief is to be present at training venues, hotels and stadiums with the players and staff, emphasised: “No team member can say they don’t know or were not told. Every new player is made aware of the do’s and don’t’s; the foreign players are told in English. Players are encouraged to take permission prior to meeting anyone in hotels or stadia, be it family members, relatives, friends. Strangers are not allowed in player rooms and everyone, including me, keep mobiles in a separate place during matches.”
Need for tight watch
Surpratik Sen, U Mumba CEO, explained: “Sandeep looks after not just running the team, also the ethics base, like use of mobile phones. Players are on television, the recognition and fame can do different things to your mind. There are many youngsters in the line-up, quite gullible. Both of us played rugby for India and we know when you are young, you are gullible. Sometimes you feel, these measures are intrusive and about personal freedom. If you are part of the PKL and with things going wrong in Indian sport elsewhere, there is a need to keep a tight watch.”
He revealed that anti-corruption measures were set up after the PKL inaugural season in 2014. “The league saw it early enough that it (corruption) could be a challenge, by the second season things were put in place. By the third season, the measures became quite tight, in a good way. Teams were also encouraged to set up a system, they felt players need to be coached all the time, internally within the side. There is another Integrity Officer who questions everything and keeps a tight watch. These measures are about loyalty to the sport. The league players are paid good money and should understand that, if you are doing a paid job, you will be put on watch.”
Players, coaches and support staff are observed at all times. “Strangers, including girls, are not allowed in hotel rooms and team members need to inform before meeting anyone, even family members, in the hotel lobby,” informed Sandeep Singh, present in Pune for U Mumba’s tie at Balewwadi stadium against UP Yoddha.
“Mobiles of players are taken away the night before a match, to make sure they get enough sleep.” He is seated in the stands when match is on, keeping an eye on the team bench.
Fazel Atrachali is team captain for PKL-7 and the chief coach is Sanjeev Baliyan. The U Sports-owned squad is placed fifth and in the running for a playoffs place.
