In 1994, I was a ten year old full of sporting ambitions, and all I knew was that Pakistanis were born to win. That year was in many ways the peak of Pakistan’s sporting history; a pinnacle achieved from the sweat and blood of so many heroic sportsmen.
Two years before, Pakistan had lifted the Cricket World Cup in Australia, a fitting culmination of the great cricketing career of Imran Khan. To this day, videos of post-match celebrations send shivers down my spine. Pakistan had achieved this feat in the absence of the havoc-wreaking Waqar Younis, who along with the perennial high achiever Wasim Akram, were set to form the most devastating opening duo in cricketing history. In the same year, Pakistan also lifted the Champion’s Trophy in hockey.
And then came 1994. Even at the age of ten, I made an excuse for a doctor’s appointment to watch the hockey world cup final, in which Pakistan triumphed over the Netherlands after a nail biting penalty shoot-out. Muhammad Yousaf won the IBSF World Snooker Championship. And to top it all off, Jansher Khan was relentlessly winning squash tournaments worldwide, carrying the baton from the man I consider to hold the greatest sporting achievement, Jahangir Khan. Undoubtedly, the future looked bright for Pakistan. But before going to the future (spoiler alert: it’s not good), reminiscing on the foundations for 1994 is important.
In Pakistan’s first Olympic Games in 1948, Muhammad Ali Jinnah said in his address: ‘For sound minds we should have sound bodies and that is why nations the world over attach so much importance to bodybuilding and physical culture. The First Pakistan Olympic Games should act as an incentive to all Pakistan nationals to emulate the Olympic motto: “Citius, Altius, Fortius” i.e. “Faster, Higher and Stronger”.’ While Abdul Hafeez Kardar is recognized all over Pakistan as one of the country’s first sporting heroes, much less light has been shed upon the man dubbed the ‘Flying Bird of Asia’, Abdul Khaliq Khan. With all due respect to Milkha Singh of India, who received recognition from India on all forums including the recent Bollywood film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Abdul Khaliq was in a league of his own. In his international career, Abdul Khaliq won 36 gold medals, 15 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals. In 1954, he set an Asian record of 10.6 seconds in 100 metres. Officially, his best time has been recorded at 10.3 seconds, which was merely 0.1 seconds off the world record. This record stood for over 50 years. As described by many peers and later athletes, he was a true inspiration.
For inspiration though, one needs not look any further than Jahangir Khan; world number one in squash for a record 100 months. From 1981 to 1986, Jahangir remained unbeaten. Let that sink in. That means 555 consecutive match wins, despite the physical rigours of squash, despite any niggles and injuries that may have tried to beat him down. People regard Joe DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak in baseball as the most unbreakable record in sports history. There is also Roger Federer’s record of 23 consecutive semi-finals and 36 consecutive quarter-finals. But they pale in front of Jahangir’s achievements. As a side note, he remained unbeaten for another 9 months after one loss, and in 1982, he won an entire tournament without dropping a single point! Thankfully, Jahangir was followed up by an almost equally gifted Jansher Khan, who reigned supreme till 1998. Ever since then, Pakistan has regressed, with no top players in sight.
When Pakistan won the hockey world cup in 1994, it had done so for the 4th time, which still leads the pack. ‘Saleem Ullah se Kaleem Ullah’ was being repeated in every street in every nook and corner of the country, and lore of Shahbaz Ahmad Sr. demolishing defences with speed and agility reached mythical heights. However, we have not smelled victory even from afar since then. In snooker, we keep hearing of victories now and then, but that is a sport which appears to have long lost its charm in Pakistan. Aisam ul Haq Qureshi has been the lone torch bearer for Pakistani tennis, but despite his achievements in doubles, Pakistan has failed to produce a tennis star.
In many ways, it seems that 1994 was the culmination of a perfect storm. In typical Pakistani fashion, we laid back, soaked up the accolades, sipped our tea and stopped trying to improve. The rest of the world adapted, and we were left cribbing about minute non-issues like rule changes in hockey affecting our free-flowing style. Cricket aside (and by 1992’s standards, we have reached nowhere), our entire sports culture has been erased and decimated.
The reasons for such failure are manifold. Sports holds little importance in the national narrative, what with political unrest and terrorism highlighting peoples’ daily lives.
As is with all areas of governance, rumours of corruption are plentiful. It has not helped that our main sports organizations have been under the dictatorial control of people who continue to reap personal benefit and gain at the expense of the development of sports. This is evident from Pakistan’s performance (tainted by media reports and court proceedings regarding unmerited selections) in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, where we failed to snag a single gold medal and ranked a measly 23rd out of 37 countries, despite having one of the larger contingents (inflated in number by numerous ‘officials’). Additionally, infrastructural development is negligible, and we do not have access to the facilities that other countries do.
When one faces personal situations of embarrassment, one is often reminded in one’s heart of the honour and dignity of one’s name and family. In this new era of national shame and shaming, we better start thinking of our sporting heroes and honours soon, lest our glorious past becomes ancient history.
The writer is an Advocate of the High Courts, having been called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in England and Wales, and an avid golfer, cricketer and basketball player.
usman.sahi@clm.com.pk