DID Press: Afghanistan’s national volleyball team has withdrawn from the Central Asian Volleyball Championship in Pakistan after failing to obtain visas in time, despite receiving an official invitation and completing preparations for the tournament.
According to the Afghanistan National Olympic Committee, all logistical and technical arrangements for the team’s participation had been finalized, but delays in the issuance of visas prevented the players and coaching staff from traveling to Pakistan.
Afghan sports officials said the country’s name was removed from the list of participating teams less than 48 hours before the tournament, with Uzbekistan named as the replacement.
The Central Asian Volleyball Championship is regarded as one of the region’s leading volleyball competitions, and Afghan officials said the team’s absence represents a missed opportunity to compete at the regional level.
Officials from the Afghanistan Volleyball Federation and the Taliban’s sports authorities described the situation as concerning and said they would raise the issue with the relevant international sports bodies. No official explanation has been provided regarding the reason for the visa delays.