India denies Kabaddi team permission to tour Pakistan amid political tensions

ISLAMABAD: The Indian government has denied permission to its Kabaddi team to travel to Pakistan for a bilateral series scheduled from Nov. 19-23, state-run media reported this week amid political tensions between the two countries. 
Political tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan have restricted cultural exchanges and bilateral sports events between the two nations. 
The two neighbors have fought three wars, two of them over the Muslim-majority Himalayan region of Kashmir, which they both claim in full but rule in part.
Kabaddi, a sport that originated in South Asia, is popular in both countries. The game is played with two teams of 12 players, seven on court, and five in reserve. It consists of two halves of 20 minutes each during which two teams compete., alternating between defense and offense.
“Our counterparts in India have conveyed their inability to send their team to Pakistan,” the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Secretary Muhammad Sarwar Rana as saying on Thursday.
“We regret this decision as we had eagerly anticipated hosting them here.”
The Indian team was scheduled to play against Pakistan on Nov. 19 in Katarpur, Nov. 21 in Lahore and Nov. 23 in Bahawalpur, APP said. It added that the PKF was trying to arrange alternative exhibition matches due to the cancelation.
The development takes place a few days after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it had been informed by the ICC that the Indian government had denied its cricket team permission to travel to Pakistan for next year’s Champions Trophy tournament. 
The PCB has reportedly sought clarification from the ICC on India’s refusal. 
India’s national cricket team has not toured Pakistan since 2008 due to soured political relations between the two neighbors, who play each other only in global multi-team tournaments at neutral venues. 
Pakistan hosted the Asia Cup last year but was forced to shift all of India’s matches to Sri Lanka under a “hybrid model” after India refused to send its team to Pakistan. 
APP said the Indian blind cricket team was also awaiting its government’s nod to participate in the upcoming fourth edition of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held from Nov. 23 -Dec. 3 in Pakistan’s Lahore and Multan cities.
“According to media reports, despite securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the sports ministry, the Indian blind team has yet to receive final approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of External Affairs,” it said.