KOLKATA:
The two Pakistani players signed up for an ongoing professional kabaddi league in India will not turn up for their team in any match held in Mumbai and Pune due to “security concerns”, tournament organisers have said.
“Franchises will not field players of Pakistani origin for matches held in Mumbai and Pune,” said Mashal Sports, the organisers of Pro Kabaddi 2015, in a written statement to Dawn.
“This is in light of security concerns for the safety and success of the tournament while being hosted in Mumbai and Pune,” the statement said. The organisers, however, did not clarify what the “security concerns” were.
Both the venues are located in the western state of Maharashtra.
Mashal said the decision was taken “in consultation with the AKFI and the IFK” – the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and the International Kabaddi Federation.
The move comes after the Maharashtra-based Shiv Sena party protested against the inclusion of Pakistani players. The Bharatiya Janata Party, often labelled as a “Hindu revivalist” party, is in power in the state.