The sports ministry, on Monday, made it clear that it will not allow Pakistani players to compete in the Pro Kabaddi League, the fourth edition of which will begin next month, unless the neighbouring country “gets rid of terrorism”, reported PTI.
The fifth season of the league will begin on June 25 with a clash between Puneri Paltans and Telugu Titans in Pune. Recent reports suggested that Pakistani players could be included in the players’ auction.
“They (organisers) can call them but they can’t make them play. Even if they are selected, it is government of India which will decide whether they are allowed or not. Unless Pakistan gets rid of terrorism, it is impossible to play with them,” Sports Minister Vijay Goel said.
In the recent past, Pakistan’s hockey players and cricketers have also been denied to compete on Indian soil. Recently, Pakistan’s wrestling and squash teams also claimed that their visas were rejected by India.
Pakistan’s National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports urged its sports top sports authorities and federations to collectively launch a campaign to stop India from being given hosting rights for international events.
Following Pakistan’s outrage, Goel had provisionally suspended India-Pakistan bilateral ties, and had made similar remarks. He had categorically stated that there would sporting relations between the two countries till Pakistan stops supporting cross border terrorism.
The diplomatic tensions between the two countries has escalated in recent months after a Pakistan military court awarded the death sentence to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav last month for espionage and subversive activities. Jadhav had been arrested on March 3 last year.
India challenged the judgement in the International Court of Justice, which ordered a stay on the execution.
