ISLAMABAD: As many as six national kabaddi players will leave for India next week to represent various franchises in India’s first pro kabaddi league.

The mega event among eight teams from India will take place in different cities from July 25 to Sept 1, in which a number of international players besides players from India and Pakistan participate.

These players were selec­ted on the pattern of Indian Premier League (IPL).

The teams are owned by various celebrities including renowned film star Abhishek Bachchan, who owns Jaipur Pink Panthers, sports commentator Charu Sharma and India’s top industrialists.

Pakistan Kabaddi Federa­tion’s secretary Mohammad Sarwar told Dawn that four Pakistan players have won handsome package deals which range from 800,000 to one million Indian rupees.

Two players will be there as standby and will strike a deal with any team on the spot.

He hoped that Pakistani players will show their best in India. Sarwar said the league enjoyed full recognition of the Indian sport ministry. To a query about visas, he said the players have applied for visas through the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation.

“I think there will be no visa issue and players will leave for India next week,” he said.

Pakistani players:

Nasir Ali, Wajid Ali, Waseem Sajad, Kashif Razzaq, Hasan Raza, Atif Waheed.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014