Ubaidullah Rajput Faces Indefinite Ban from Pakistan Kabaddi Federation

Ubaidullah Rajput has been indefinitely banned by the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation after he wore an Indian jersey while playing for an India-linked team in Bahrain. The federation's swift action followed the circulation of videos and images on social media, leading to scrutiny over Rajput's participation without the necessary no objection certificate. Despite claiming it was a misunderstanding, Rajput's actions have drawn significant criticism. He later issued an apology, stating he was unaware of the team's identity until after the event. This incident highlights the complexities of sports and national identity amid ongoing political tensions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 28, 2025, 16:25 IST

Indefinite Suspension Imposed on Ubaidullah Rajput

The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has announced an indefinite suspension for international player Ubaidullah Rajput. This decision follows his appearance in an Indian jersey while representing a team associated with India during a private tournament held in Bahrain earlier this month.

The federation convened an emergency meeting on Saturday to address the situation. Officials indicated that Rajput traveled abroad without securing the necessary no objection certificate (NOC) from the PKF or other relevant authorities.

PKF Secretary Rana Sarwar confirmed that Rajput not only participated without the required clearance but also donned the jersey of an Indian team and celebrated a match victory by wrapping himself in the Indian flag. Sarwar mentioned that Rajput has the option to contest this disciplinary action before a committee.

The incident gained traction on social media after videos and images of Rajput in the Indian jersey and waving the flag during the GCC Cup went viral. This prompted swift action from the federation. Sarwar also noted that other players who participated in the same tournament without NOCs faced similar bans and fines.

Rajput has claimed that it was a misunderstanding, asserting that he was unaware that the team he joined for the private tournament was identified as an Indian side. However, Sarwar emphasized that he violated NOC regulations.

In a subsequent apology, Rajput explained that he was invited to the Bahrain event and selected for a private team. He maintained that he did not realize the team would be labeled as Indian until later.

Rajput stated, "I didn’t know until later that they had named the side an Indian team, and I told the organizers not to use the names of India and Pakistan. In previous private competitions, Indian and Pakistani players have collaborated on teams but never under the names of their respective countries."

He further expressed his discomfort with being perceived as representing India, a notion he finds unacceptable due to the ongoing political tensions. "I discovered later that I was misrepresented as playing for the Indian team, which I can’t think of doing after the conflict," he added.