Pakistan once ruled the sports world, and till mid-90s, they were the world champions in squash, hockey, cricket and snooker. But soon, they started losing one title after the other and by the close of the decade of the 90s, they were titleless. This is the sad story of Pakistani sports, which suffered badly because of political wrangling at the highest level in national sports organisations.
For quite some time after the birth of Pakistan, the country was largely an unrecognised entity in the outside world. But it was hockey, cricket and squash, which brought us identification and recognition.
Pakistan's victory over India in 1960 Rome Olympic, winning a gold medal for the first time was no less stunning, as Pakistan ended India's monopoly in the game, who were the Olympic Champions-six times since 1928. Pakistan's sportsmen have written a brilliant chapter of the country's history with their hands and feet. The three-time Olympic and four-time World Champion, Pakistan are now struggling to regain their past glory.
Not only in hockey, Pakistani players also brought laurels in cricket and squash.
Now that we know how the victory at Lord's has lifted the nation's morale. Squash. Almost simultaneously, Pakistani squash players came on the scene and scored unprecedented victories. Pakistan ruled the squash world for no less than 30 years. Since the first ever historic victory of Hashim Khan in the British Open in 1951, Pakistan set numerous world records and produced a good number of world-class squash players, but for the last six years, it seems that the country will be remembered only in the pages of squash history.
The six-time world champion Jahangir Khan has rightly said that Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has to set targets and work tirelessly to achieve the objectives to revive the country's squash glory. He regretted that the present lot of players was more interested in monetary gains rather than working on their game and winning goals.
He was also critical of PSF bosses, who did not seek his "advice" and suggestions to revive the sport, and added: "We are lacking administratively and professionally."
Enormous talent: We have been listening since long that there is enormous talent in the country. True, the talent is there, the urge is there, but what is missing is the absence of basic infrastructure and proper training of talent at grassroots level.
The apathy and indifference of the sports authorities at the governmental or organisational level was the major cause of decline in the standard of sports. No sincere efforts have been made to exploit the hidden potential and prepare a strong backup as replacement for the ageing and retiring players.
The country is fortunate to have produced quite a good number of outstanding sportsmen, who have made it to the top after learning the tricks of the game of their choice on the streets or at the backyard of their houses, without any proper guidance. While a few have braved the apathy and indifference of the sports bigwigs to the development of sports activities and made it to the top, the majority has eclipsed prematurely.
It is indeed a miracle that the country has produced a large number of legends, who were the genuine "ambassadors" of the country. Sports authorities, too, admit that Pakistani sportsmen have the potential to prove their mettle in any game at the international level, but their tributes have never materialised beyond lip-service.
Millions of rupees are allocated in the national and provincial budgets for the promotion of sports and sports-related activities in the country, but the question is that what was the contribution of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), the then Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP), now the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and other organisations.
Unlike the European countries and even India, where sports was given due attention by the government. After every big event, the sports authorities in those countries make plans for future engagements. Since they sincerely believe in the philosophy of "catch 'em young," they are always in search of talent and provide them with the basic facilities of coaching and training.
Though the sports officials claim themselves to be champions of the cause of the promotion and development of sports, but they get active only when some international or regional event is announced. It is true that security reasons have forced the foreign cricket teams to avoid touring Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan, who lost chance of hosting 2011 Cricket World Cup and have been forced to play their "home series" in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), New Zealand and England, but at the same time, the ineptitude of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) bosses uplift the game.
Inzamam flays groupings in PCB Former Test captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for allegedly giving hope to many players for captaincy, thus making groups among the players.
Inzamam said the PCB had engaged Shahid Afridi, Salman Butt and Abdul Razzaq in the row as next captain and that was triggering automatic race among them to get support of the maximum players. As a result, everyone aspiring to become captain of the national team is busy in lobbying to gain top slot in the team. He said that first 30 probables and then a 15-member final squad for the World Twenty20 had been announced without a captain, which was evident of their lack of direction. He questioned how the PCB could grill the captain in case of any dismal performance in the World Twenty20 as the board itself was responsible in making senseless decisions.
Hockey scene Meanwhile, former Olympians and internationals demanded ouster of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Asif Bajwa after the national team's worst-ever 12th position in the mega event. Asif Bajwa, said to be also holding the position of manager and chief coach, was reportedly sacked by PHF President Qasim Zia along with the entire management and selection committee after the highly disappointing performance by the Pakistan team in New Delhi.
In the meantime, former Olympians and internationals, including Akhtar-ul-Islam, Islahuddin Siddiqui, Samiullah Khan, Shahnaz Sheikh, Rasheed-ul-Hassan, Ayaz Mahmood, Shahbaz Ahmed, Qamar Ibrahim, Qamar Zia and Kamran Ashraf, called on Sports Minister Aijaz Jakhrani, and said that they wanted the revival of hockey in the country and save it from further decline.
According to Islahuddin, Jakhrani promised to make an important announcement very soon. Now it is hoped that the sports authorities will wake up from their deep slumber and give serious thought to the training of young sportsmen to bring back the past glory.