Controversy Erupts as Pakistani Kabaddi Player Represents India in Bahrain, Meeting Summoned

PKF Summons Emergency Meeting After Pakistani Kabaddi Player Appears in Indian Jersey at Bahrain Tournament

The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has called an emergency meeting of its general council on December 27 to investigate the participation of national kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput in a private tournament in Bahrain, where he was seen wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag.

The controversy erupted after videos and images went viral on social media, showing the internationally renowned Pakistani kabaddi player competing for a team labelled as “India” during the third GCC Kabaddi Cup, held on December 16 at the Gulf Air Club in Salmabad. The footage sparked widespread criticism and backlash online.

In an official statement, PKF Secretary Rana Sarwar strongly condemned the incident, clarifying that the event was privately organised and featured teams named after countries such as India, Pakistan, Canada, and Iran. He said that while players generally belonged to their countries of origin, Indian-origin players primarily formed the “India” side.

Sarwar disclosed that 16 Pakistani kabaddi players travelled to Bahrain without obtaining a mandatory No Objection Certificate (NOC) from either the PKF or the Pakistan Sports Board, a violation of federation rules.

“No official Pakistan team was sent, and no permission was granted for participation,” Sarwar stated, adding that disciplinary action would also be taken against individuals who falsely represented a ‘Pakistan’ team at the tournament.

PKF Chairman Chaudhry Shafay Hussain has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the matter and assured that strict disciplinary action will be taken against all those found responsible.

Amid the growing backlash, Ubaidullah Rajput issued a public apology on social media, claiming he was unaware that the private team he joined would be officially labelled as “India.” He maintained that the tournament was a local annual club-level event, not an official India-Pakistan contest.

In a video message, Ubaidullah said he only realised the situation after hearing political slogans from the crowd. He added that he requested the commentator to clarify that the match was a club competition, not a bilateral fixture, and insisted he would not have participated had he known how it would be portrayed.

Responding to allegations of treason and public outrage, the Pakistani kabaddi player appealed to the public not to brand him a traitor, reiterating his apology to the PKF and the nation for hurting public sentiments.

The PKF emphasised that while international players often compete together in club tournaments, representing another country or displaying its national flag is unacceptable, especially under the current circumstances.