The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has called an emergency General Council meeting on December 27 after a Pakistani player was seen turning out for an Indian side and waving the Indian flag during a tournament in Bahrain.
According to federation officials, the player, Ubaidullah Rajput, wore the Indian team’s jersey and celebrated with their flag, triggering outrage once images and videos surfaced online.
PKF secretary Rana Sarwar said the matter will be taken up on the direction of federation chairman Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, who has summoned the council to decide on disciplinary measures.
Sarwar explained that 16 Pakistani players featured in the Bahrain event, but none were part of an officially sanctioned national squad. He underlined that the federation had not issued any NOCs nor given permission for a Pakistan team to take part.
“This was a self-assembled side using Pakistan’s name without approval,” Sarwar said, adding that neither the tournament organizers sought clearance from the government nor informed the PKF about staging the event.
He described Rajput’s decision to line up for an Indian team and wave its flag as unacceptable and deeply regrettable, and vowed a full investigation.
“We will probe this case in detail and take the strictest possible action,” Sarwar said, warning that the PKF will also move against “self-appointed promoters” behind unauthorized competitions. “We will not allow anyone to misuse Pakistan’s name or arrange illegal events.”
Sarwar acknowledged that players from different countries often appear together in club-level kabaddi, but drew a clear line between that and representing another country and displaying its flag.
The federation has indicated that all individuals involved in arranging and participating in the unsanctioned tournament could face consequences once the General Council reaches its decisions later this month.
