Setback for Pakistan: After India's withdrawal, Islamabad loses hosting rights of Central Asian Volleyball Tourney to Tashkent

Pakistan lost the hosting rights for the Central Asian Volleyball tournament after India pulled out of the competition in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terrorist attacks. Scheduled to take place in Islamabad, India's withdrawal forced the organisers to switch the tournament to Tashkent in Uzbekistan instead.

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It was a senior official of Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) confirmed on Saturday that the Central Asia Volleyball Association (CAVA) has decided to shift the tournament to Uzbekistan.

 

"It is a huge disappointment for Pakistan volleyball even though India had withdrawn. But we fully understand the CAVA's General Body's decision," news agency PTI quoted the official as saying.

 

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On April 27, PVF official Abdul Ahad said India has withdrawn from the tournament which was earlier to be held in Islamabad from May 28. Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are the players involved in the tournament.

 

Tension between the two neighbouring countries has grown following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed.

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"The Indian volleyball officials have informed the regional body that their government has cancelled the NOC issued to them for the tournament after the incident in Pahalgam," Ahad had reportedly said.

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