Pakistan’s Hosting Dreams Dashed as Volleyball League Moves to Uzbekistan
News Desk
Islamabad: The Central Asia Volleyball Association (CAVA) has officially relocated the Men’s Nations League from Pakistan to Uzbekistan, citing security concerns fueled by rising tensions between Pakistan and India.
The tournament, originally slated to be held in Islamabad from May 29 to June 4, will now take place in Uzbekistan on the same dates. The decision was finalized during CAVA’s Annual General Meeting in Nepal on April 25, where member countries raised apprehensions over the regional security climate, particularly the strained bilateral relations between the two South Asian neighbors.
Speaking to Dawn, a senior CAVA official confirmed, “The tournament will now take place in Uzbekistan, but the dates will remain as initially planned.” The official noted that teams from several Central Asian nations had expressed reservations about participating in the event due to safety concerns in Islamabad.
Ch Mohammad Yaqub, a senior representative of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF), also confirmed the development. “Yes, the decision was made after several countries refused to participate due to the prevailing security concerns arising from tensions between Pakistan and India,” he said.
Despite the relocation, the league will continue to feature all originally scheduled teams, including Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and India. CAVA has assured that the competitive spirit and structure of the tournament will remain intact.
The move has sparked mixed reactions. While some stakeholders have welcomed the decision as a precautionary measure to ensure athlete safety, others have expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s missed opportunity to host a high-profile international sports event.
This setback comes at a time when Pakistan has been actively working to improve its global image through sports diplomacy. The local volleyball community remains optimistic that Pakistan will regain the confidence of regional bodies and host future international tournaments once the security situation stabilizes.
