Nadir could not go with boxing team to Thailand due to violating immigration rules

KARACHI: Pakistan''s boxing team captain Nadir Khan was offloaded from a Bangkok-bound flight here Friday for carrying two National Identity Cards (NICs) when he was on way to participate in the 31st King''s Cup International Boxing tournament in Thailand.

Nadir, a young accomplished middle-weight boxer, was to lead the squad in the Bangkok competition April 3-5.

However, when he was about to a board a flight to Bangkok, Nadir was stopped by the Pakistani airport authorities as his name was on their ''black-list''.

The Pakistan Boxing Federation will decide today about the period of banning him at an emergency meeting.

Chairman Pakistan Boxing Federation Zafar Zuberi said that Nadir was in possession of two separate NICs which is an offence to immigration law and thus he was arrested but the Navy got him free on a temporary bail.

Zafar Zuberi said that doors of boxing are looking to be closed on Nadir Khan as his arrest caused a bad name to the country.

Nadir was disallowed from leaving the country with the national team and it is unlikely that he would be able to join the squad in Bangkok as the King''s Cup already began Friday, according to sources.

The tournament is an annual feature on the Asian boxing calendar.

The Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) was hoping that by featuring in the event, the national pugilists will be able to prepare for the Ahmed Comert International boxing tournament to be held in Istanbul April 14-20.

The four other boxers in the Pakistan squad are Rashid Fateh (48 kg), Abdul Waheed (51 kg), Muhammad Wasim (54 kg), Qadir Khan (57 kg), Nadir Khan (75 kg).