Pakistan Badminton, Kabbadi team yet to get NOCs to tour India

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