All the nine Pakistani players -- Mahmood Rashid, Fareed Ahmed, Muhammad Tousiq, Imran Butt (Mumbai Magicians), Mohammed Rizwan Jr, Mohammed Rizwan Sr (Delhi Waveriders), Kashif Shah (Punjab Warriors), Muhammed Irfan and Shafqat Rasool (Ranchi Rhinos) -- were forced to return home without playing a single game in the wake of the tension between the two countries at the Line of Control.

Commenting on the partnership, managing director and chief operating officer of of Hero MotoCorp, Pawan Munjal said, "We have been committed to the promotion of hockey in India since the past several years. With this new partnership with FIH, our association with hockey now enters a new and exciting phase." FIH Chief Executive Officer Kelly Fairweather termed the ongoing HIL as another milestone in the effort to bring India back on top of world hockey. "The interest HIL has generated is amazing. It has captured the imaginations of hockey around the world," he said.