ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has decided to place the affiliation dispute involving the Pakistan Padel Federation (PPF) before its board, as two rival groups continue to claim legitimacy as the country’s governing body for the sport.

Pakistan, which has faced frequent disputes involving parallel sports federations in recent years, is once again witnessing a controversy over the administration of a national sports body.

Padel tennis — a sport that combines elements of tennis and squash — has rapidly gained popularity in the country. However, the PPF, which is tasked with promoting the sport and facilitating players’ development, is currently embroiled in a governance dispute.

One faction is headed by Mohammad Mateen as president and Quratulain as secretary, while the other is led by squash legend Jahangir Khan as president and television anchor Mansoor Ali Khan as secretary.

The Mateen-led group holds affiliation with the International Padel Federation (FIP), which was granted in 2024, as well as Padel Asia. It claims to have three affiliated provincial units — Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — and recognition from the Islamabad Olympic Association.

The group also claims to have the support of two affiliated departments and backing from the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA).

According to a POA letter sent to the PSB in April this year, a committee headed by retired Lt Col Raja Wasim Ahmed conducted a detailed assessment of the group’s application and found that it fulfilled the affiliation criteria.

“The applicant fulfils the affiliation criteria, including the presence of three provincial padel associations as well as two departments affiliated with the POA, in addition to [the] recognition by the relevant international federation,” the letter stated.

The POA letter further noted that the association’s executive committee had been informed that the PSB, in its meeting held on March 31, 2026, had granted provisional affiliation to another entity — the group headed by Jahangir — seeking recognition to represent padel in Pakistan. The provisional affiliation was subject to registration under the Companies Act, 2017, and subsequent affiliation with the relevant international federation.

“The matter concerning the grant of provisional affiliation by the PSB in the absence of confirmed recognition by the relevant international federation warrants review at the level of the PSB Board,” the letter said.

The POA Executive Board therefore resolved to formally request the PSB director general to place the matter before the board for consideration.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh High Court last week suspended the PSB letter issued in favour of the Jahangir-led group in response to a petition filed by Mateen. The court directed the PSB to hear both the parties and decide the matter afresh within 20 days.

Talking to Dawn, an office-bearer of the Mateen group claimed that his organisation was legitimate and established federation responsible for promoting padel tennis in Pakistan.

“Our junior team participated in the Junior World Cup last year, while we have also qualified for the Asia Cup, to be hosted by Japan in September,” he said.

He alleged that the PSB had delayed consideration of his group’s case and later granted affiliation to the rival faction.

“This was a great injustice by the PSB, and finally we got relief from the Sindh High Court,” he said.

Speaking to Dawn, Mansoor, the secretary of the Jahangir-led group, maintained that his organisation was the legitimate governing body as it had received affiliation from the PSB.

“We have an active Punjab unit affiliated with the Punjab Sports Board, as well as a unit in Islamabad,” Mansoor said.

“For affiliation of any new sports federation, [gaining] recognition by the PSB is the first step. The other group bypassed the PSB and obtained affiliation from the FIP, which is illegal. We are legitimate because we first obtained affiliation from the PSB,” he claimed.

Mansoor further said that his organisation had subsequently initiated the process of securing recognition from the FIP and Padel Asia.

“After obtaining affiliation from the PSB, we moved our case with the FIP and our correspondence is at an advanced stage,” he said.

He added that, in light of the Sindh High Court directions, his group would present its case before the PSB and seek recognition as the sole legitimate federation.

“We will plead our case as we are the only genuine federation,” the secretary of the body said.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2026