PR Sreejesh criticises Craig Fulton after India squad named for Asian Champions Trophy
On October 15, 2026, former India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh criticised head coach Craig Fulton and the national selectors in a post on X after the squad for the Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in Punjab was announced.
India had recently won Asian Games gold and secured direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics; Hockey India chose not to rest frontline players for the continental tournament, prompting Sreejesh — a two-time Olympic medallist and former national junior coach — to question the selection policy on X and whether longer-term Olympic preparation was being prioritised.
“Wow!!! We’ve won Asian Games gold, yet we’re back with our best players for the Asian Champions Trophy. Is this tournament really worth the risk of exhausting our key players when bigger challenges lie ahead? Even Pakistan isn’t participating! Why not rest our stars, test our bench strength, and give young players a real opportunity to prove themselves? Do we have a genuine second line-up, or are we simply afraid to test it? Or is another trophy the perfect way for the chief coach to secure another two years in the hot seat? We are 8th in the world ranking. Are we building a team for the future, or protecting positions in the present?”
Sreejesh added questions about whether the event might serve as a farewell for senior players and said he would have appreciated squad selection that took that possibility into account: “Or, as the rumour goes, is this tournament a platform for some big names to say goodbye? If that’s the real plan, then I genuinely appreciate it! Legends deserve a proper farewell! But if the goal is long-term success, shouldn’t we be investing in the next generation NOW?” He also wrote, “Trophies are important. Building a team that keeps winning is even more important.” The former goalkeeper did not name individuals in his post.
The exchange follows earlier public friction: Sreejesh had questioned long-term dependence on foreign coaches after India’s eighth-place finishes in consecutive FIH Pro League seasons, and his contract as junior national coach concluded without an extension. Fulton responded to selection criticism by emphasising the significance of hosting the tournament, saying: “Playing the ACT in Punjab will be something special. This squad blends youth with experience, and we can’t wait to feed off the home crowd. There’s nothing like playing a tournament in India, and we’ve missed it.” Fulton maintained that competing on home soil requires a balanced, competitive side capable of handling high expectations.
The squad named contains the following players: Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Krishan Bahadur Pathak; Defenders: Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amandeep Lakra; Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh; Forwards: Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh; Reserve/Replacement Players: Vishnu Kant Singh, Angad Bir Singh.
The selection preserves the core that won the Asian Games, a continuity that the coaching staff say positions India to compete against Asia’s leading hockey nations on home soil.
The Men’s Hockey Asian Champions Trophy will be staged in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, 2026.