Following a dispute over the McDonald’s Karachi Grand Slam, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has ruled that the Pakistan Padel Federation (PPF) is neither recognized or associated with the nation’s official sports organization. Legends Arena held the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) event, which was Pakistan’s first international padel competition.
The PSB accused PPF representative Mudassir Razzaq Arain of “illegal interference” and “misrepresentation” in a letter dated October 29 after he tried to stop the event by warning authorities and players. According to the PSB, Arain had broken the PSB constitution and lacked the power to act on behalf of any federation that was legally recognized.
Threats of disciplinary action and unauthorized orders
The PPF sent out emails before the tournament accusing the APPT event of being “unauthorized” and threatening “immediate disciplinary action” to those who participated. The International Padel Federation (FIP) purportedly issued a decree on October 6 that was referenced in these mails. The PSB did clarify, nevertheless, that Arain’s actions were not approved and that no padel federation is now associated with its organization.
Three main conclusions were highlighted in the PSB’s letter:
The PSB does not recognize or associate any padel federation stands.
Mr. Arain falsely claimed to be the head of a federation that didn’t exist.
It is against the PSB constitution for him to meddle in an approved international event.
International escalation and legal repercussions
Arain was given three days by the PSB to reply and defend his acts, failing which he may face legal action and possibly be banned. The issue has also been brought before the FIP, the sport’s international governing body, which has allegedly given the PPF until December 2025 to demonstrate its connection to the PSB.
PSB support is welcomed at Legends Arena.
The PSB’s involvement, according to Legends Arena CEO Talal Shah Khan, allowed the competition to go forward without worrying about penalties. In order to make clear the federation’s lack of legitimacy, he also sent the FIP the PSB’s conclusions.
“We are really pleased with the Pakistan Sports Board’s decisions in this case, which allowed Pakistan to host its first international padel tournament with great success,” Khan added.
Many authorities and players who wished to participate in and support this historic event were distressed by the acts of the so-called PPF. I urge the governing body, FIP, to take note of the PSB’s explicit declaration that the PPF has no jurisdiction over padel in Pakistan and to conduct due diligence on all candidates for a new padel organization in the country.
A pivotal moment in Pakistani padel history
The dispute has brought attention to the necessity of more transparent government and formal padel recognition in Pakistan. Stakeholders believe that this occurrence will result in the creation of a valid, government-backed organization that may facilitate future expansion and international involvement, as the sport is becoming more and more popular worldwide.