NAGOYA, Japan, September 30, 2026: Pakistan men’s volleyball captain Murad Jehan has raised concerns over logistical arrangements at the ongoing Asian Games in Japan, saying players have at times returned from training to find hotel dining facilities closed and no food available.
Murad shared his concerns in a video posted on Instagram after the Pakistan team was taken to the wrong venue ahead of its Pool A match against Uzbekistan. The incident forced the match to be delayed by 45 minutes and left the players with limited time to prepare and warm up.
According to Murad, the team’s bus driver appeared unaware of the correct gymnasium and took the players to another venue. With time running short, some players had to change into their playing kits while still on the moving bus.
Murad described the situation as disappointing and said the team had not expected such problems at an event being hosted in Japan.
He also said the venue mix-up was not an isolated issue. According to his account, players have sometimes returned to their hotel after training sessions only to find the restaurant closed, leaving them without a meal.
The local organising committee later acknowledged the transport error, saying there had been a mistake in matching teams with vehicles. Officials apologised to the Pakistan and South Korea teams and said steps would be taken to prevent similar incidents.
Despite the disruption, Pakistan secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Uzbekistan. The team had earlier defeated Kazakhstan 3-1 in its opening Pool A match.
Pakistan subsequently finished second in Pool A after losing 3-0 to hosts Japan in their final group match. The result sent Pakistan into the quarter-finals against India, with the knockout match scheduled for October 1.
The logistical complaints come amid wider organisational issues at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Organisers have previously apologised for operational problems, while other teams have also reported transport-related difficulties, including South Korea’s volleyball team being taken to the wrong training venue.