Karachi: Pakistan sports ministry is sitting
on two requests from the National Badminton Federation and the
National Kabbadi association which have asked for NOC's to
take part in events in India.
Both the federations have announced their squads for the
international events which will be held next month in New
Delhi and Patiala.
"We have sent our request to the ministry for clearance
and we are hopeful of getting the NOC so we have set up camp
and are training accordingly," Muhammad Sarwar, the secretary
of the Pakistan Kabbadi body said.
He said 18 players had been picked to take part in the
World Circle Kabbadi Championship from April 3 in Patiala.
Similarly the Pakistan Badminton Federation also
announced a six-member squad for the Asian Badminton
Championships in the Indian capital from April 12 to 18 after
extensive trials in Lahore.
"But our participation in the Asian Championship is
obviously subject to clearance from the ministry of sports,"
an official said.
The players selected for the team include Pakistan number
one Wajid Ali, Umar Zeeshan, Rizwan Azam, Kashif Sulehri,
Palwasha Bashir and Sara Khan.
Pakistan and India have not had any bilateral sporting
contacts since the Mumbai terror attacks in November, 2008 but
the ministry has allowed some teams to go and take part in
multi-international events in India. The Pakistan hockey team recently took part in the World
Cup in the Indian capital finishing at 12th position.
After the Indian Premier League officials and franchises
rejected Pakistani cricketers at the players auction, the
government has largely adopted a stiffer stance on awarding
NOC's for teams to go and take part in any event in India.
"We have formed a strong 18-member team for the World
Championship which has been preparing since March 10, under
coach Muzaffar Hussain," the secretary of the Pakistan Kabaddi
association Muhammad Sarwar said.
He said that all the 18 players will feature in the India
event while six others have been kept in reserves. To a querry
he said that few boys have been replaced in the camp which was
set up for the expected bilateral series against India which
could not be held due to certain reasons.
He disclosed that the PKF has submitted the case to the
Sport Ministry and he is hopeful that the government would
allow the team to feature in the event, in which leading ten
countries of the world will be vying for the title.
A newspaper report said that nine national teams of UK,
USA, Canada, Pakistan, Iran, Australia, Italy, Spain and host
country India have already sent their consent to participate
in this tournament.
The opening match would be in Patiala whereas closing
ceremony would be in Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana on April 15.
PTI
First Published: Friday, March 19, 2010, 23:17