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The fifth edition of the Tour de Punjab International Open road race, a major national cycling event, commenced with the participation of Afghanistan team but without Pakistan’s top cyclists due to internal conflicts.
The tournament’s first stage ran from from Rahim Yar Khan to Bahawalpur, which was won by Afghanistan’s Zabiullah. However, the race was missing Pakistan’s Zeeshan Ali, Naimat Ali, Habibullah and Sajid Muhammad, the top cyclists of Pakistan
According to a Pakistan Cycling Federation (PCF) official, the players were asked to skip the race by their departments, as they do not follow the PCF led by Idris Khawaja, which is affiliated with the Lieutenant General (retd) Syed Arif Hasan-led Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).
“The departments follow and participate in the events organised by the PCF led by Azhar Ali, which supports the POA of Major General (retd) Muhammad Akram Sahi,” the official told The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2015.
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