The Cheater

By Abdul Jabbar Faisal – 

What India did in kabadi match is simply not cricket

In a controversial final of the Kabaddi World Cup 2014, host India got rid off Pakistan 45-42 that was taken place in Ludhiana, India on December 20 after a thrilling 40 minutes game.

Pakistan were leading till the last four minutes of the game and were encountering two Indian umpires in the crucial fixture of the mega international kabaddi showpiece. Later, International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) refused to accept India’s title.

Pakistan took the start with a bang by earning quick points and got the lead 7-11 at one stage of the game and green shirts kept the lead till the completing of 1st part of 20 minutes. Raider Irfan Mana and Captain Shafiq Ahmed Chestti displayed excellent skill of traditional game kabaddi while stopper Sajjad Gujjer, Rana Ali Shan and Musharraf Janjua did well in their department.
Hosts were crawling behind the Pakistan before the final whistle and losers were ahead 31-27 at one stage of the second part of the final.

As the local spectators were foreseeing the defeat of their homeland team, the officials of the local management committee came into action and started unfair game.

At the vital stage of the title match Indian umpires gave couple of contentious decisions that helped India to earn the lead. As soon as India gained three points in the final, the official pushed the button of buzzer to finish the match and threw the trophy in the lap of India. Pakistani lads were crying over this injustice but no one was there, who give ear to their voice.

Pakistan Kabaddi Federation Stance

Secretary, Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) Mohammad Sarwar Rana, who is also secretary of Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) said that Pakistan would raise this issue in the top international kabaddi body International Kabbadi Federation (IKF) in the next meeting. “The mostly decisions were against Pakistan and the both umpires were from India and it was not fair. India damaged the soul of the game and it would be harmful for the future of kabaddi, “he said while talking to
this scribe some days back.

Mohammad Sarwar further said that India’s mistreatment of Pakistan was disappointing and contrary to the sportsman spirit, as both teams were performing well earlier but the visitors were then subjected to prejudice. “Hooter went off before the allotted time for the final. It’s what Indians do all the time really. They always use such type of tactics. I agree with our captain [Ahmed Shafiq Chishti] that the hooter went off before time as soon as the Indians got a three-point lead,” he lamented.

Responding to a question Mohammad Sarwar Pakistan were leading 31-27 at one stage. “Everyone saw the match, so I can only say that now we’ll be taking this matter very seriously, and we will approach the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) strategically. IKF will become
a member at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) next month, which will hopefully improve the standard of the federation. “We’re waiting for better times now and will wait for our chance on a neutral venue,” said Sarwar.

Skipper Laments Over Mistreatment

Skipper of the national kabaddi team Shafiq Ahmed said in his post-match comments that the final match was ended before the time as soon as hosts got the just three points lead. “The mistreatment by the organizers was unforgettable for me. Indian players were using anything during the match and at the other hand Pakistan boys were not allowed to drink water, “out of breathed Shafiq said soon after the match while talking to a local TV channel.

He also complained that Pakistan players were not allowed to drink water and when they reacted they were told to ‘stay away’. Pakistan gave a very good performance against the Indians and were in lead 31-27 at the end of the third quarter. With the start of the fourth quarter India tried to lessen Pakistan’s lead and as soon they gained a two-point lead the final hooter rang, which was before the stipulated time.

Pakistan captain further said that if India organises the event that doesn’t mean they have to cheat and keep the World Cup for themselves. He also claimed that if unjust decisions in favour of India would not be stopped, Pakistan team would stop participating in the event.

IKF Declares India’s Victory Illegal

After the controversial final of Kabaddi World Cup 2014, the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF) declared the India’s win against Pakistan illegal. Devraj Chaturvedi, IKF Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) dissolved the victory of India, saying that the tournament could not be called a World Cup as international rules were not implemented in the tournament.

He added that a World Cup would be conducted in the coming year. Chaturvedi said that unbiased referees adjudicate big events whereas there were Indian referees in the final. Earlier, the final match of the Kabaddi World Cup 2014 became controversial when Indian referees gave biased judgment in favour of their homeland upon which Pakistan referred the matter to the IKF after refusing to accept India’s win in the match.

The writer is a senior sports reporter based in Islamabad