Key points
- Pakistan once held world titles in four major sports, but has since declined
- Hockey and cricket suffer from poor management and a lack of unity
- Sports like squash, snooker, and boxing show potential but need support
- Reviving sports requires collective resolve, discipline, and honest effort
As the Independence Day celebrations settle, it is time to move from pride to purpose. Pakistan’s rich sporting legacy reminds us of the power of unity, discipline, and national spirit. To revive that legacy, we must commit to meaningful action — on and off the field.
Pakistan, our beloved country, is known worldwide as a sporting nation. Pakistan has always been on the sporting map and held four world titles in 1994 when we were champions in field hockey, snooker, cricket, and squash. This is a unique honour which no country in the world can boast of. Only Australia comes close to Pakistan as a sporting nation.
The father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had always emphasised physical fitness, discipline, and unity, which sports can vitally and verily provide. He said: “Sports can be a powerful tool for uniting people from diverse backgrounds, bringing them together under a shared passion and goal. This aligns with Quaid-e-Azam’s vision of a united and strong Pakistan.” He initiated the National Games at the famous polo ground in Karachi from 23 to 25 April 1948. The first National Games provided sportsmen and officials from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and all five provinces with the basic infrastructure. Quaid introduced a “Challenged Shield” from his pocket to encourage those who had the will to strive, compete, and win.
Field hockey
The nascent nation had a number of players in field hockey, cricket, and athletics who were already mature before the partition in 1947. Pakistan competed in the 1948 Olympics and gave a scintilla of hope that it could emerge as a powerful sporting nation. Pakistan’s field hockey team reached the semi-final, where they lost to Great Britain 2-0. It started a sequence of medals, with the first gold coming at the Rome Olympics in 1960. The same Olympics saw Pakistan’s Mohammad Bashir winning a bronze medal in wrestling. In the years and Olympics to come, Pakistan won two more gold medals (Mexico 1968 and Los Angeles 1984), besides winning three silvers and two bronzes. Sadly, the last medal – a bronze – came in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
But it is a story of elation to desolation.
We need to remind ourselves of our glorious past in field hockey. The Pakistan Hockey Federation is embroiled in corruption, a lack of positive work, and there is a lack of support for the players. We must pledge — government, officials, and players — that we will strive honestly to revive our hockey. We have not been able to qualify for the last three Olympics and have also missed the last World Cup. That should be the target — to qualify for the major events.
Cricket
Cricket has also brought laurels and glory for Pakistan. The 1992 World Cup win united the nation at a time of despair. The same happened when Younis Khan lifted the 2009 T20I World Cup at The Lord’s. Pakistan then clinched the Champions Trophy in 2017. The game of bat and ball has also brought some glorious moments. The Oval Test win of 1952, Lord’s triumphs in 1992 and 2016, Bangalore victory, and series win over India in 1987 are a few that can be savoured in a lifetime.
Our performance in cricket has also nosedived. Barely three days from the Independence Day celebrations, the Pakistan cricket team suffered a disastrous 202-run defeat in the third and final ODI against the West Indies, losing the series 2-1. This became Pakistan’s first series defeat against the West Indies in 34 years! Pakistan had also crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the first round in March, spoiling a big occasion of hosting the first international tournament for 29 years.
The cricket team needs to learn the traits of Unity, Faith, and Discipline. These traits must be ingrained in the team to overturn the slump.
Squash
Pakistan has also seen a decline in standards in squash. The sport has seen world-renowned champions like Hashim Khan, Qamar Zaman, the greatest of all, Jahangir Khan, and the great Jansher Khan. But since Jansher faded out, we have not produced a world champion. There are sporadic successes, with Hamza Khan clinching the Junior World Title and Noor Zaman winning the U-23 World Championship. But like hockey and cricket, Pakistan needs concerted efforts in squash as well.
Snooker
Snooker is one game in which Pakistan’s successes do not go unnoticed but go unrewarded. We have won titles through Mohammad Yousuf, Saleh Mohammad, Mohammad Asif, and others. We must pledge more support to snooker, which has the potential to lift Pakistan in the world.
Boxing
Pakistan won a bronze medal in boxing in 1988 when Hussain Shah rose to the podium in Seoul, South Korea, with the country’s anthem reverberating in the stands and the green and white flag hoisted. Ever since then, we have only won a gold medal in the Busan Asian Games in 2002 through Mehrullah Lassi. Since then, the Pakistan Boxing Federation has not worked properly and has several factions and has been inactive.
Javelin Throw
Last year, Nadeem Arshad emerged as a ray of hope. He triumphed in the javelin throw competition of the Paris Olympics with a record throw of 92.97 metres. Arshad has been showered with prizes and laurels. He promises more achievements for the country.
So, the achievements are there. We savoured these sporting achievements on Independence Day. But we must now pledge and show a resolve that we will strive honestly and diligently to upend failures and bring laurels through sports. They say when there is a will, there is a way. Pakistan has achieved great success against India in the recent war. This success has awakened the people of Pakistan — that no matter how big the task, no matter how strong the opposition, we have, and we can in future. We have the talent and can achieve more success in the years to come.
