India-Pakistan conflict: Tamil Nadu pulls out of FIBA West Asia Super League Final 8 tournament

Tamil Nadu were set to begin their campaign against Shabab Al Ahli on May 12.

South Asia clubs champion Tamil Nadu will no longer be taking part in the upcoming FIBA West Asia Super League Final 8, the FIBA Regional Office-Asia confirmed on Friday. This decision is the result of force majeure, arising from the ongoing war between India and Pakistan, which has greatly impacted travel.

According to a statement from FIBA, the Tamil Nadu state basketball team could not travel to Lebanon for the tournament due to no available flights. “After over 12 hours of waiting at the airport with no available flights, along with the closure of more than 30 airports, it has become clear that the team’s participation in the event is no longer possible,” the tournament’s official website said in its statement.

“As a result, we regret to inform you that all scheduled games involving Tamil Nadu are hereby cancelled.”

Tamil Nadu, who had qualified for the FIBA West Asia Super League (WASL) Final 8, by winning the SABA Club Championship, were placed in Group B alongside UAE club Shabab Al Ahli, Tabiat Basketball of Iran and Kuwait-based Al Qadsia SC.

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“Group B of the Preliminary Phase of the competition will now feature only three teams – FIBA WASL Gulf League 2024/25 champions Shabab Al Ahli of UAE, Iranian club Tabiat and Al Qadsia of Kuwait,” the tournament’s official website said.

Meanwhile, Group A will remain a four-team affair led by reigning Final 8 champions Al Riyadi Beirut, fellow Lebanese outfit Sagesse, Saudi Arabia’s Ittihad and BC Astana of Kazakhstan.

The competition is set to be played from May 10 to 18 at the Stade Nouhad Noufal in Zouk Mikael, Lebanon.

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