Indian rugby players barred from entering Pakistan

Indian team takes the field with only 12 players after members serving in armed forces did not gain clearance.

NEW DELHI: The Indian team taking part in an international rugby tournament in Pakistan had to take the field with only 12 recognised players after members of the squad who are in the army were barred from travelling.

India, the top-ranked side in the Asian 5 Nation tournament, had been expected to comfortably beat Uzbekistan in Thursday's match in Lahore but they were beaten 23-17 after being overrun by the opposition.

Aga Hussain, vice president of the Indian Rugby Football Union, said 14 members of the squad who are serving in the armed forces had been unable to gain clearance from their bosses to enter Pakistan.

"We need a military intelligence clearance for army players to travel abroad. We applied for it and we were waiting for this permission, unfortunately we did not get it," Hussain told AFP.

"As this permission was refused, we had only 12 players."

Although two members of the team management were drafted in to play alongside the 12 civilian players, the lack of numbers ultimately took its toll as the team was beaten after conceding two late penalties.

Hussain said there was no prospect of the soldiers now getting clearance, but he was hopeful that India would at least be able to field a full 15-man line-up for the next match against Pakistan on Sunday.

"One of our players, who is a student, stayed in Delhi for his exams but he has a visa and will try to join the team today."

Sporting ties between India and Pakistan often fall foul of diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours.

India's cricket team has not toured Pakistan since 2006 although it did host a one-day series in 2012-13.