India refuses to send Kabaddi team to Pakistan
File photo of a Pakistani kabbadi player attempting to tag his Indian opponents during the Kabaddi
Following its decision not to send the Indian team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, India has now extended this stance to its Kabaddi team.
India has denied permission for its Kabaddi team to travel to Pakistan, where a match was scheduled for November 19 at Kartarpur, Express News reported.
In response to this decision, officials from the rival Kabaddi Federation have informed their Pakistani counterparts.
Additionally, a series of matches had been planned, with the Indian Kabaddi team scheduled to play in Lahore on November 21 and in Bahawalpur on November 23.
The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation expressed regret over the Indian government's position, and organisers are now making arrangements to hold an exhibition match in Nankana.
India's blind cricket team's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup is also in doubt, as the team is still awaiting government approval.
Despite being issued the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the sports ministry, the Indian blind team could not get the approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to visit Pakistan for the mega event.
The fourth edition of the Blind T20 World Cup will run from November 23 to December 3 with matches scheduled in Lahore and Multan.
General Secretary Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) Shailendra Yadav shared that they have been waiting for the government's approval since the last two weeks.
"We need yes or no from the government," said Yadav.
The last time India blind team played a bilateral series in Pakistan was in 2014.
Champions Trophy 2025: PCB seeks ICC's clarity on India's refusal to tour Pakistan
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially reached out to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting a formal written explanation regarding India's refusal to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Sources confirm that, in light of government directives, the PCB has sent an official email to the ICC, requesting clarity on the verbal statement made by the ICC regarding the Indian team’s decision not to participate in the event in Pakistan.
In an exclusive development, the PCB has demanded a formal response from the ICC to understand the specific reasons behind the Indian team's reluctance. The PCB's request comes in the wake of mounting uncertainty over the tournament's schedule, with the delay in announcing the ICC Champions Trophy fixtures attributed to India's position on the matter.
The issue has prompted a strong reaction from the Government of Pakistan, which is reportedly prepared to take a firm stance. If the Indian team continues to refuse to travel to Pakistan, the government has indicated that Pakistan's own participation in any future events involving India will be reconsidered.