Karachi,  28 Dec

Pakistan international kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput has been banned indefinitely by the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation after he represented an Indian team in a private tournament held in Bahrain earlier this month.

The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the federation on Saturday. The PKF found Rajput guilty of travelling abroad without obtaining the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC) from the federation or other competent authorities.

PKF secretary Rana Sarwar said the player would be given the opportunity to appeal before a disciplinary committee.

Sarwar said the federation viewed the matter seriously as Rajput not only travelled overseas without permission but also played for a team identified as Indian, wore its jersey and was seen wrapping the Indian flag around his shoulders after a match.

“Rajput has said it was a misunderstanding and that he was not informed in advance that the side would be named as an Indian team. However, he is still guilty of violating NOC rules,” Sarwar said.

The controversy erupted after videos and photographs of Rajput wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag during the GCC Cup went viral on social media.

Sarwar added that several other players were also fined and banned for taking part in the tournament without prior clearance from the federation.

Rajput had earlier issued an apology, stating that he was invited to play for a private team in Bahrain and was unaware that it would be projected as representing India.

“I later objected to the use of India and Pakistan as team names. In the past, players from both countries have featured together in private teams, but never under national identities,” he said, adding that he was misrepresented amid heightened tensions between Pakistan and India