12 July 2004	Monday	23 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 11: Pakistan's last-minute withdrawal from Central Asia volleyball championship scheduled to be held from July 13 in India, irked Indian Volleyball Federation (VFI) and they decided not to play Pakistan for at least a year.

At least for a year they would play Pakistan in only multinational events, no mutual series or invitation meets, VFI said. Pakistan's last-minute withdrawal from the Central Asia Volleyball tournament at Vizag forced the event to be cancelled and prompted the VFI to shut the doors on its neighbour, a move that could backfire given the potential loss of income.

Pakistan were the second team after Iran to pull out of the event. Even without Iran, the VFI was keen to get on with the tournament but with Pakistan opting out the field was reduced to just three teams: Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and India.

Pakistan Volleyball Federation chief Chaudhry Yakub, blamed it on lack of funds. It is learnt though that besides funds issue two key national players too have difficulties participating in the event.

According to Chaudhry participation in the event would have cost them about Rs 1.3 million. "We were expecting that the government would bear the cost but we didn't get clearance. So we had no option but to stay home," he said.

Chaudhry added that the internal travel in India and hotel expenses would have pinched them the most. To a question, wasn't the VFI, as hosts, ready to pay or at least arrange for a discount, he replied that it was generally done for an invitational tournament, "but I am not complaining since VFI had made its stand quite clear well in advance," he clarified. -PPI