'Fake' football team from Pakistan reaches Japan for tournament; deported
What's the story
Japan has reportedly issued a warning to Pakistan regarding potential human trafficking after a fake football team was discovered in the country. The team, which claimed to be from Sialkot, was deported after authorities found their documents to be forged. The group of 22 people had flown from Sialkot airport and were found with fake passports and documents, according to News18. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has identified Malik Waqas as the main accused in this case.
Investigation progress
Main accused in case arrested
Investigators said Waqas had registered a football club called 'Golden Football Trial' and taught the group to behave like players, charging each member Rs 4 million to facilitate their travel. The FIA has registered a case against him at the Gujranwala police station and arrested him for his alleged involvement in this human trafficking scam. Waqas had earlier sent 17 people to Japan using similar tactics in January 2024, he confessed during interrogation. None of those individuals ever returned.
Sports controversy
Incident comes amid tensions over cricket handshake controversy
The incident comes amid tensions between India and Pakistan over a cricket-related handshake controversy. After India's Asia Cup 2025 match victory against Pakistan in Dubai on September 14, players from both teams skipped handshakes. According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it was Zimbabwean match referee Andy Pycroft who asked captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands during the coin toss.
Official response
PCB condemned Pycroft's directive as 'against sportsmanship'
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) condemned Pycroft's directive as "against sportsmanship" and registered a formal protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The cricket match between the two neighbors was the first between the two teams since the Pahalgam attack in April, when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Kashmir, killing 26. After the victory over Pakistan, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the Indian Armed Forces.