Pakistani kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput faces the prospect of disciplinary action after he signed up for a team labeled “India” during a private kabaddi tournament in Bahrain on December 16. The episode sparked an outcry in Pakistan after photos and videos surfaced on social media showing Rajput wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag during a GCC Cup event.
The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) reacted strongly, announcing that it would convene an emergency meeting on December 27 to decide on possible action against Rajput and others involved.
PKF secretary Rana Sarwar confirmed the tournament in Bahrain featured private teams named after different countries, but said players were expected to represent sides associated with their national origins. “It was a private event with teams named India, Pakistan, Canada, Iran and others by the organizers,” Sarwar said. “However, each team consisted of players from the same country. The Indian players represented an Indian private team and Ubaidullah playing for them is unacceptable under these circumstances.”
The problem deepened after Sarwar revealed that at least 16 Pakistani players had traveled to Bahrain without obtaining the mandatory permission from the federation or the Pakistan Sports Council. He said action would be taken not only against Rajput but also against players who competed under the name of Pakistan without permission. “Action will also be taken against those who played falsely under the name of the Pakistan team,” Sarwar added.
After the controversy, Rajput publicly apologized and offered his explanation. He said he was invited to participate in a private tournament and only later realized that the organizers had labeled his side as the Indian team. “Initially I didn’t know that they named the team India. Once I found out, I told the organizers not to use the names India and Pakistan,” he said.
Rajput pointed out that mixed teams made up of Indian and Pakistani players have competed together in private tournaments in the past without being presented as national sides. “In earlier private competitions, Indian and Pakistani players played together, but never under the names of India or Pakistan,” he said.
He also insisted that he had no intention of representing India, especially given the prevailing political tensions, and described the episode as a misunderstanding created by the organisers. “I never intended to play for India. I later realized that I was misrepresented, which is something I don’t even think about given the current situation,” he said.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
December 18, 2025
