Former India hockey players have questioned the need to change the national team’s jersey colour from blue to saffron for the World Cup, beginning on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Former captain Pargat Singh felt the change was politically motivated. “Everything in the country is being saffronised — education, history and now sports too. This is worrying. Sport unites people and rises above religion, caste and politics,” said Pargat. Other former India captains Dhanraj Pillay and Viren Rasquinha felt the national team will lose its identity due to this colour switch.