Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: Bengaluru Bulls star Ravinder Pahal ruled out of clash against Haryana Steelers

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Ravinder Pahal (second from right)

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The Bengaluru Bulls have had a torrid campaign in the fifth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League so far and in Saturday's encounter against the Haryana Steelers, they have another uphill task. The Steelers have been in fine form and will pose a serious threat to the Bulls' defence that has performed below par this season.

Their chances look even slimmer today as it has been confirmed that star defender Ravinder Pahal will not take to the mat, as he is still serving his suspension for the red card he received against the Bengal Warriors last month. During the previous match against Dabang Delhi that Pahal sat out, there were talks about him returning against the Steelers on the TV broadcast and on social media. However, it has been confirmed by a Bengaluru Bulls official that the former Delhi man is still not eligible to play.

Pahal was sent off for a clash with the officials during the match against the Bengal Warriors and it was later confirmed that it warranted a two-game suspension. The Bulls were scheduled to play the UP Yoddha in Mumbai after that but in a unique turn of events, the match was postponed as the teams were unable to reach the venue in time due to the heavy rains that lashed the city and left the team bus stranded in heavy traffic.

The Bulls played Pahal's former side Delhi next, where they lost out as the defender did not play and his presence was missed on the right corner. There was a great deal of uncertainty regarding when he would be eligible to return to the lineup due to the previously postponed match. But now, it has been ascertained that he is still under suspension and the Bulls will take on the Steelers without him on the team sheet.

The Bulls have found favourable results hard to come by this season and in the 11 matches they have played, they have won just three and lost seven, which puts them second from bottom on the Zone B points table and a mammoth 13 points adrift of the playoffs spot. They will have it all to do against a strong Haryana side and it will be fascinating to see how they will stop the likes of Surjeet Singh and Wazir Singh without their star defender.

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