Pakistan kabaddi team had to use five Canadian nationals of Indian origin in its side at the recently held World Kabaddi Cup in Australia due to a lack of options, DawnNewsTV reported on Monday.

The national team was extremely short-handed Down Under as only five of its players and a coach were granted Australian visas; more than half their side were refused visas due to incomplete paperwork.

But instead of pulling out of the tour, the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation still sent the team to Australia with the knowledge that it did not even have half the squad needed to compete.

To make up for its lack of options, the team ended up drafting in five Indian-origin players into their squad; two of those drafted were Amar Singh and Teja — both of whom have represented India in the past.

Gurdeep Singh, another non-Pakistani, later told the media that he had filled in as Pakistan's team manager.

Despite foreign help, the team ended up disappointing in the one-day tournament, failing to even make the semi-finals as Australia went all the way and clinched the title.

Opinion

Editorial

Parliament’s place
Updated 11 Oct, 2026

Parliament’s place

In 2015, the parliament had decided to “maintain neutrality in the Yemen conflict so as to be able to play a proactive diplomatic role to end the crisis”.
Disturbing the peace
11 Oct, 2026

Disturbing the peace

THIS year’s Nobel Peace Prize is well-earned. The winner, South African jurist Dr Navi Pillay, has had an...
A voice in care
10 Oct, 2026

A voice in care

WORLD Mental Health Day this year carries a compelling message. The theme, ‘Lived experiences heard: real voices,...
Midterm break
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

Midterm break

Both the US and Israel need to halt their destructive misadventures in the Middle East.
American barbarism
Updated 10 Oct, 2026

American barbarism

WITH the spectre of defeat in the upcoming midterm elections looming large over the Trump administration, the...