Five former Pakistan captains – four of whom are still in contention for national duty – are among around nine national players with links to the World Series Hockey – an unofficial league that is planning to open shop in India this summer.

Waseem Ahmed, Rehan Butt and Shakeel Abbasi, the trio who are expected to represent Pakistan in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Kuala Lumpur next month, top the suspect list.

Also included in the list is seasoned defender Zeeshan Ashraf, who led Pakistan to a historic title-winning triumph in the Asian Games in China last year. Another former captain Muhammad Saqlain and Olympian Adnan Maqsood are also believed to be on the list.

Sources said that most of the country’s leading players have been roped in by the rebel league but the PHF has warned that it would not compromise on the issue and any player with links to the unofficial World Series will be banned for at least one year.

“Our stance on this so-called world series is clear,” Asif Bajwa, the PHF secretary, told Arab News. “Any player with links to the league will be banned for a year and will also have to face action from his department,” he added.

“We have issued strict instructions against joining what is an unsanctioned league and want our players to stay away from it. If there are still any issues then we will sort them out with an iron hand,” stressed Bajwa, a former Olympian.

Pakistan are to announce their 18-man squad for the Azlan Shah Cup on April 28 in Islamabad but Bajwa made it clear that any player with links to the rebel league will not be considered for the assignment.

Among the 22 players in contention for place in the national team are Waseem, Butt and Abbasi. The PHF has decided to overlook them if the trio failed to submit proof of their disassociation with the unsanctioned league before April 28.

Bajwa, however, was confident that all the national players will opt for country over cash.

“We have asked the players to stay away from the unofficial league and I’m confident that they will make a wise decision,” he said.

The league, which is a joint venture of a sports management firm and the unrecognized Indian Hockey Federation, is trying to rope in 60 top international players besides local Indian talent. It promises to offer $3 million in prize purse which is a huge sum for hockey that remains an amateur sport.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has disapproved the league as it recognizes Hockey India (HI) as the custodian of the sport in the country. It has written to all national associations asking them not to be a part of the league.