Two Pakistani players who signed up for the on-going professional Kabaddi league in India will not make any appearances in any match held in Mumbai and Pune due to “security concerns”, Indian media reports said on Monday. “Franchises will not field players of Pakistani origin for matches held in Mumbai and Pune,” said Mashal Sports, the organisers of Pro Kabaddi 2015, in a written statement to an Indian newspaper.“This is in light of security concerns for the safety and success of the tournament being hosted in Mumbai and Pune,” the statement said.The move comes after the Maharashtra-based Shiv Sena party protested against the inclusion of Pakistani players. The Bharatiya Janata Party, often labelled as a “Hindu revivalist” party, is in power in the state. Last year, too, three Pakistani players participating in the inaugural season were kept away from matches in the state by their teams on account of the threat to them.This year, both the Pakistani players have been bought by the Patna franchisee, the Patna Pirates. Of the two, Waseem Sajjad made his debut in the inaugural season in 2014, also for Patna, and was a key member of the team.The other Pakistani for Patna this season, Nasir Ali, is a debutant in the Pro League, having been signed up the franchise owners for a fee of INR 800,000 (PKR 1.23 million). Shiv Sena protested the inclusion of the players in the PKL, stating that Pakistanis should not be allowed to play when soldiers are dying at the borders. This is not the first time the Hindu revivalist party has come in the spotlight for its anti-Pakistan remarks. The same concerns were seen when Pakistani cricket players were not allowed to play in the Indian premier league (IPL) due to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Unfortunately all sporting ties have been severed since that incident. Allowing Pakistani players to participate in the IPL is favoured by cricket enthusiasts on both sides of the border, not just the players themselves, who would benefit greatly both professionally and monetarily by the opportunity. Imagine Shahid Afridi playing in the IPL. What Indian cricket fan would not want to see that happen?If groups like the Shiv Sena would just maintain a peaceful stance, there is great potential for cultural exchange and dialogue. Pakistan’s terror problem is due to non-state actors, and the state is doing its best to get rid of extremism. In contrast, with the oft-belligerent BJP and the even more rightist Shiv Sena, extremism has become part of the state setup in India.
pk.shafaqna.com
