Pakistan In Sports

INTRODUCTION OF PAKISTAN BOARD
Pakistan Sports Board was established under the Ministry of Education through the Sports (Development and Control) Ordinance, 1962 as a corporate body for the purposes of promoting and developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally, and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis.

Subsequently, in July, 1977 with the creation of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the administrative control of the Pakistan Sports Board was transferred to it. 

The Board has a General Body, with its Headquarters at Islamabad. The General Body consists of 35 members. It lays down the policy and 12 members Executive Committee implements this policy. 

Pakistan Sports Board being the supreme body of sports monitors the activities/affairs of National Sports Federations affiliated to it and ensure proper utilization of annual and special grants given by the Board. The annual grants are released to the National Federations to meet their day to day expenses whereas special grants are meant for participation and holding of international sports events. These grants are allocated/approved by the Executive Committee of Pakistan Sports Board keeping in view the popularity of games, achievements of international level and activities of the Federations. At present, 40 National Sports Federations are affiliated with the Board. Each Federation is responsible for promotion and development of its respective game/sports.
 

History Of Sport:
Muhammad Ali Jinnah had a great love for sport and fully released the vital role it played in the development of Nations and inculcation of discipline among the masses.
In a meeting with the Organizing Committee of the First Pakistan Olympic Games held at Karachi the Quaid-i-Azam said to the first President of Pakistan Olympic Association Mr. Ahmed E.H. "Dedicate yourself to sports promotion, for when you and I are gone, leadership will go into the hands of Youth, and Youth is our wealth, a raw material, that must be hammered into shape, into burnished steel to strive and smite in defence - the defence of the integrity and solidarity of Pakistan - the defence of the ideology of Pakistan."
The first National Games were held at Polo Ground, Karachi from 23 to 25 April 1948. Sportsmen and officials from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and all the integrated Provincial units of West Pakistan took part in these Games. The total number of athletes was 140. No competitors were, however, invited from any foreign country. Competitions were held in track and field athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
Over the years, Pakistan has been held back due to the lack of funds placed in sports. Many facilities are of substandard, this has seen Pakistan fall behind other nations. In the early years, the young state would be able to compete, with many success, but during the late 70's with the government not investing in sports, the country no longer could compete.
However, since the late 90's, this trend has changed. Money is now being placed into sports, and many of the federations are now managed by people who are trying to push Pakistani sportsmen and women forward. International tournaments are now hosted in the country, and the nation now sends sportsmen and women to compete abroad. There have also been restructuring of national tournaments, and new facilities and equipment being provided. This has seen overall results improve.So in other words, you can say that baseball is a popular sport in Pakistan, because it is a sport.
On March 3, 2009, 12 militants with guns, grenades, and rocket launchers attacked a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to a match at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan. Six Pakistani policemen escorting the team and two civilians were killed while seven Sri Lankan players and an assistant coach were injured. Since the terrorist attacks, no foreign cricket teams have competed in Pakistan. A month after the attack on the Sri Lankan team, the International Cricket Council relieved Pakistan of co-hosting duty for any 2011 World Cup games. Pakistan has tried to make the best of the situation by offering to host its "home" matches on neutral territory in the United Arab Emirates.


Popular sports in Pakistan:
 
Cricket:

Cricket has a huge following and based on attendance figures at games,cricket is most popular sport in the country. Pakistan has produced many multi-talented players who have been among the best batsmen and bowlers in the world. Almost all districts and neighborhoods in Pakistan have a cricket team and people start playing from a young age. Pakistan has won a lot of international cricket events which include the 1992 Cricket World Cup and the 2009 ICC World Twenty20, besides finishing as runner up in 1999 World Cup and 2007 World Twenty20. Pakistan's cricket teams take part in domestic competitions such as the ABN-AMRO Cup, the ABN-AMRO Patron's Trophy, ABN-AMRO Twenty-20 Cup, and the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. International test and one-day matches are played between the Pakistan national team and foreign opponents regularly. The Pakistan Cricket Board controls both the men’s and women’s game. Women’s cricket is also very popular, with Kiran Baluch holding the current record of the highest score in a women's test match with her 242. Notable cricketers from Pakistan include Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, and Imran Khan.

Hockey:

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is the national governing body of field hockey in Pakistan. The Pakistan Hockey Federation Women Wing (PHFWW) is the official organization of women's field hockey in Pakistan. The Pakistan men's team has won three gold medals at the Olympics and lifted the Hockey World Cup four times,

a World Record. It has also won the most number of Asian gold medals and is the only Asian team to have won the prestigious Champions Trophy with three titles. It has been consistently ranked amongst the top teams in the world. Notable players include Arshad Khan, Mohammed Saqlain and Waseem Ahmad.

Squash:

Squash is another sport that has a large following in Pakistan, with Pakistan dominating the sport for a period of time. Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan are considered legends of the sport and have won several World Squash Championships and other tournaments. Pakistani players have won the squash World Open 17 times, and British open 12 times, the highest by any nation. Carla Khan, one of Pakistan's most successful sportswomen, is one of a number of men and women who represent Pakistan. The Pakistan Squash Federation is the governing body of the sport in the country. The Pakistan Open tournament is one of the premier events of the sport in the country. Every province of the country holds its own men's and women's championships. Some other notable players from Pakistan include Hashim Khan, Torsam Khan and Qamar Zaman.

Polo:

Polo, is believed to have originated in Central Asia, and continues to be an important sport within the country with several large annual competitions. The Shandur Polo Tournament, played at the world's highest pologround every June, is one of the biggest tourist draws to Chitral and Gilgit in Northern Pakistan. The Shandur Pass was picked as the location because, at 11,000 ft above sea level, it was seen as a ridge between heaven and hell. Key tournaments of the season are the Uprising Day tournament in early November in Gilgit, or the Pakistan Independence Day tournament in Skardu, early August. The Pakistan Polo Association (PPA) organise the sport, and the national side takes part in the Polo World Cup. Polo is played professionally with a number of Argentine players playing in Pakistan. Notable players include Murad Ismail, Raja Sami Ullah, Raza Muhammad Ali Khan Bangash and Hissam Ali Haider. Raza Bangash is Pakistan's No 1 Polo Player since June 2009 Playing for President's Body Guard Team.
 

Football:

Football has always been the so-called poor man's sport but is really popular as a means of entertainment and activity for all age groups. Football has also enjoyed a powerful growth as a spectator sport in Pakistan since the 1990s and is slowly catching up to cricket in the TV ratings (2008 statistic). Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is the official organization in Pakistan. Football is played mostly on a local level, primarily in Balochistan. These areas provide most of the players on the national team. Pakistan Football Federation Women Organizing Committee (PFFWOC) is responsible for women's football in Pakistan. In 2004, the Pakistan Premier League was established and is the first division of Pakistani football. The Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup is the national "knockout" cup competition in Pakistani football, run by the Pakistan Football Federation. The Pakistan National Women’s Football Championship is the annual women's championship. Notable players include Muhammad Essa, Zeshan Rehman and Haroon Yousaf.

Volleyball:

Volleyball is popular in the Pakistan Armed Forces. Inter-services games are played regularly, and most players of the Pakistani volleyball team are from the armed forces. This game is also gaining popularity among private school students in Karachi.

Shooting volleyball is very famous in Punjab, Khaiber pakhtoon khawah and sindh. Its not an International game but it is much famous than cricket at local level. One can see huge croud during shooting volleyball matches. Mianwali (punjab) is known as major city for promoting this game. Iqbal Piplan wala (international Volleyballer), Raheem chawra (international) Nawaz Rikhi (international) etc made this game much popular in Punjab and Khaiber pakhtoon Khawah. In Khaiber Pakhtoon Khawah people love shooting volleyball and Lucky is famous for great players. Now a days Potohaar is famous for great tournaments of shooting volleyball. Its cheap sports. Ball price is 380Rs and net is 2000 Rs. A ball life is for 3 to 4 months.