A Pakistan international kabaddi player has been handed an indefinite ban after his participation in a private tournament in Bahrain sparked controversy over him representing an Indian team, an incident that has triggered sharp reactions amid strained India-Pakistan sporting ties.
The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) on Saturday (December 27) barred Ubaidullah Rajput, a prominent national player, after finding him guilty of travelling overseas without mandatory clearance and appearing for an Indian side during the GCC Cup earlier this month.
Pakistan federation cites NOC violation, India jersey appearance
According to the PKF, Rajput travelled abroad without obtaining a compulsory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the federation or relevant authorities, a clear breach of regulations governing international participation.
Federation secretary Rana Sarwar said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting, noting that the matter became serious after images and videos surfaced on social media showing Rajput wearing an Indian team jersey and at one point, draping the Indian flag around his shoulders following a match.
“The player not only violated NOC rules but also represented a team from India. That aspect was taken very seriously,” Sarwar said, adding that Rajput has the right to appeal before the federation’s disciplinary committee.
Rajput claims misunderstanding, but ban stands
Rajput, however, has maintained that the episode was a misunderstanding. In his explanation, the player said he was invited to participate in a private team and was unaware initially that it would be projected as an Indian side.
He claimed that in previous private tournaments, players from India and Pakistan have competed together without national labels, and that he had asked organisers not to use country names. Rajput said he later realised he was being portrayed as representing an Indian team- something he said he would not knowingly do given the ongoing political tensions between the two countries.
Despite the explanation, PKF officials said the violation of NOC rules alone was sufficient to warrant disciplinary action. The federation also confirmed that other Pakistani players who featured in the same Bahrain event without permission have been banned or fined.
