Pakistani kabaddi player under fire for playing in ‘India’ team at Bahrain event

Pakistani international kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput has landed in serious controversy after participating in a private kabaddi tournament in Bahrain while being shown as part of an “Indian team.” The incident occurred during the GCC Cup on December 16, where videos and photographs of Rajput wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag spread widely on social media.

Following the uproar, the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) announced that it would consider strict disciplinary measures against the player. PKF secretary Rana Sarwar confirmed that an emergency meeting of the federation has been scheduled for December 27 to review the matter and decide on possible action not only against Rajput but also against other players involved.

Also Read: U-19 Asia Cup: BCCI stands firm on no-handshake policy despite ICC appeal

Sarwar explained that the tournament was a privately organised event in which teams were named after different countries such as India, Pakistan, Canada, and Iran. However, he maintained that players were expected to represent teams linked to their own nationality. “Indian players played for the Indian private team, but Ubaidullah appearing for them is unacceptable under the current circumstances,” he said.

He further alleged that 16 Pakistani players had travelled to Bahrain and taken part in the tournament without obtaining permission from either the PKF or the Pakistan Sports Board. According to Sarwar, disciplinary action would also be initiated against those players for wrongly participating under the banner of the Pakistan team.

In response to the controversy, Rajput issued an apology and stated that he had been invited to the Bahrain event as part of a private team. He claimed he was initially unaware that the organisers had named the side as the Indian team. “Once I realised this, I asked the organisers not to use the names of India or Pakistan,” he said.

Rajput added that in previous private tournaments, players from India and Pakistan have competed together in mixed teams, but never under the official names of either country. He stressed that he had no intention of representing India and said he felt misrepresented, especially given the ongoing tensions between the two nations.