LAHORE: A 22-member Punjab kabaddi team leaves for Iran on Friday to play a three-match series against the national team of Iran in Tabriz, an official of the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation said on Thursday.

Sarwar was speaking during a news conference along with SBP sports director Shahid Nizami here at the National Hockey Stadium. Also present on the occasion were Punjab Kabaddi Association secretary Tahir Waheed Jatt, assistant director Raeesur Rehman and Fatima Fertilizers brand manager Mohammad Mubeen.

The two teams will also hold a joint three-day training camp before the series in Tabriz, Sarwar added.

Meanwhile, Sarwar said that the PKF would hold the second edition of the premier league next year, saying staging the league during 2019 was not possible due to the National Games (October) and South Asian Games (December) scheduled to be organised this year.

He further said that Pakistan was still a candidate to hold the next World Cup, claiming India would not get the hosting rights. Noting that the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) could play a vital role in promoting the standard of sports, Sarwar urged the PSB to treat every sports federation of the country on equal terms in granting aid.

Published in Dawn, September 13th, 2019