Underrated Sports in Pakistan

Hidden Gems: Unveiling
Pakistan's Underrated Sports

Introduction
Pakistan is a country bursting with sports talent, from the dusty
grounds of villages to the vibrant stadiums of cities. Our nation
is home to countless sports, each with its own charm and
passionate players. Yet, we all know there’s one sport that
stands above the rest—cricket. With over 50% of Pakistanis
watching it religiously and major matches drawing more than
150 million viewers, cricket has become almost synonymous
with our identity. But what about other sports? Hockey, squash,
kabaddi, and many others have brought us global fame but
remain overshadowed. In this presentation, I’ll explore
Underrated Sports in Pakistan, celebrating their achievements
and uncovering their untapped potential.
FOOTBALL
Pakistan International Football team Pakistan beats Tajikistan 6-1

Problems and Challenges
1)Favoritism
2)Officials(coaches)are illiterate
3)Lack of support from the government
4)No support from the people of this country as well

Pakistani team withdrew from SAFF championship
due to lack of funds
Source : Samma TV
Achievements
Despite the list of noticeable problems Pakistan
has achieved some trophies overall, like they won
1952 Colombo cup 1974, Quaid international cup,
they also reached the 2005 SAFF final Pakistan
women team also won the 2014 SAFF cup and
more or less the football in Pakistan is also
growing now a days the main team have won
several friendlies and world cup qualifier as well as
the under 19 team also reached the finals of
previous SAFF cup.
Pakistan wins SAFF U16 championship

Solutions
Must provide facilities
Institutions for officials (coaches)
Support from the locals
Sponsorship to legit grassroot
Player academies(tactical and technical studies)
Pakistan Women International Football team Licensed coaches

Chess – History and Background
Chess has been played in Pakistan for
decades, with the Pakistan Chess Federation
(PCF) established in 1957.Notable players like
Mahmood Lodhi, a 15-time national champion,
have represented Pakistan in international
tournaments, earning recognition in South
Asia. Despite these achievements, chess
remains overshadowed by more popular sports
in the country.
Muhammad Lodhi
Number and figures
Pakistan has no Grandmasters, while India boasts over 80
and China has over 50. In comparison, Pakistan’s top-
rated players struggle to gain international recognition.
China's dominance in chess is evident with players like
Ding Liren, the current World Chess Champion, and their
consistent performance in Chess Olympiads. India also
regularly produces rising stars like Gukesh, capturing
global attention. China and India both host major
tournaments with prize pools often exceeding $1 million,
while Pakistan’s chess events rarely offer more than a few
thousand dollars
Gukesh (Left) and Ding Liren (Right)
Solutions
Chess is underrated in Pakistan due to limited
awareness, lack of sponsorship, and the societal
focus on physical sports. Schools should introduce
chess as an extracurricular activity to build
interest among youth. Government funding,
corporate sponsorships, and media coverage are
essential for hosting large-scale tournaments.
Establishing chess academies and inviting
international players for exhibitions could inspire
the next generation and elevate chess in Pakistan
Another underrated sport in Pakistan is esports. Pakistan has grown
significantly over the past few years, driven by increasing internet
accessibility but still the industry is seen as an unprofessional industry
and lacks recognition.
History of E-Sports in Pakistan
Competitive gaming in Pakistan began in the
early 2000s with LAN (Local Area Network)
tournaments for games like Counter-Strike and
Warcraft III. The scene began to professionalize
in the 2010s with the rise of games like Dota 2 PUBG Mobile
and League of Legends. The real breakthrough
came with PUBG Mobile in 2018, which quickly
became a national phenomenon and led to the
formation of major esports organizations like
Team i8 and Entity Esports. In 2020, Pakistan's
PUBG Mobile ban was lifted, further fueling the
growth of e-sports in the country.
Dota 2
Number and Figures
Pakistan is still in its early stages compared to e-sports
giants like South Korea, China, and the U.S., it has made
notable progress. The country has a growing player base,
especially in mobile gaming, and hosts regional
tournaments like the PUBG Mobile Pakistan League and
Dota 2 competitions. Also, Arslan Siddique better known as
Arslan Ash, is a Pakistani professional e-sports player. He is
a five-time EVO champion, having emerged victorious in
EVO Las Vegas 2019, 2023, 2024 as well as EVO Japan
2019 and 2023. He also won the Tekken World Tour Finals
2023 which brought eyes on Pakistan and the esports
Arsalan Ash at EVO Las Vegas 2023 industry. However, Pakistan lacks in terms of infrastructure,
corporate sponsorship, and global recognition, with top-tier
international teams and players from these countries
dominating the global esports scene.
Dark Blue: 5G
Light Blue: 3G and 4G
Problem Yellow: 2G
Limited access to high-speed internet in rural areas

and inconsistent network quality affect competitive
gaming.
Solution
Improved Internet Infrastructure: The government
and private telecom companies should invest in
upgrading broadband infrastructure, ensuring fast
and stable internet connections across the country,
especially in underserved regions. Expanding 5G
networks will also enhance the experience for
mobile gamers.
5G area coverage map of Pakistan

Problem
Lack of formal government policies and regulation
surrounding esports
Solution
Policy Formation and Regulation: The government
should establish a national esports federation that
can regulate tournaments, player contracts, and
career development. This body should work on Valorant tournament in Islamabad
creating standards for esports organizations,
ensuring fair play, and organizing events.
Baseball in Pakistan is a sport that has been flying under the radar for decades. Despite its
immense potential, it has struggled to gain traction and recognition in a country
dominated by cricket. However, with its rich history, growing participation, and passionate
fan base, baseball in Pakistan is an untold story waiting to be explored.
Pakistan international Baseball team at United Arab Classic 2024

History of Baseball in Pakistan
The history of baseball in Pakistan dates back to the
1980s, when American expatriates introduced the
sport to the country. The first national baseball
tournament was held in 1992 in Karachi, marking the
beginning of a new era for the sport. Since then,
Pakistan has participated in several international
competitions, including the Asian Baseball
Championship and the Baseball World Cup. The
Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) was established in
1992 to promote and govern the sport and has been
working tirelessly to develop baseball infrastructure
and talent across the country. Pakistani Team at the 29th Asian Baseball championship
Future of Baseball in Pakistan
Cricket and hockey dominate the sporting scene in
Pakistan having a larger section of the population
aspiring to play those games. Therefore, baseball in
Pakistan remains unseen as a playable or watchable
sport. The country is not known for its baseball,
mostly due to only a few functional baseball fields in
the country and a lack of sponsorship and media
attention – which further estranges it from reaching
out to wider audiences. Brought into limelight by the
youth primarily as a mainstream sport, baseball is a
dying need for the youth of Pakistan to lead
through. However, the ability and reach of Pakistan's
baseball team cannot be illustrated as statistics
suggest the country hasn't even come close to Pakistan wins United Arab Classic Baseball championship in Dubai
reaching its potential
Challenges and Problems Solutions
Baseball in Pakistan faces several challenges that To overcome these challenges, several solutions
have hindered its development. One of the main can be proposed. Firstly, the government and
reasons is the lack of government support and corporate sector can provide more funding and
funding, which has limited the sport's ability to support to develop baseball infrastructure and
invest in infrastructure, training, and marketing. promote the sport. Secondly, the Pakistan
Another reason is the dominance of cricket in Federation Baseball (PFB) can launch grassroots
Pakistan, which has made it difficult for baseball development programs to increase participation
to gain traction and attention. Additionally, the and talent identification. Thirdly, the media can
lack of media coverage and sponsorship has also play a crucial role in promoting baseball by
contributed to the sport's relative obscurity. providing more coverage and airtime to the
sport. Finally, collaborations with international
baseball organizations and partnerships with
local businesses can help bring in expertise,
resources, and funding to take baseball in
Pakistan to the next level.
Conclusion
• Cricket may dominate Pakistan's sports scene, but it's time to recognize other
deserving sports
• Underrated sports like Chess, Football, E-sports, and Baseball have hidden
talent and potential
• Investing in these sports can:
o Diversify Pakistan's sporting culture
o Bring pride to the nation
o Unlock athletes' potential
o Create a more inclusive sporting ecosystem
• Let's embrace this opportunity and make a difference
• Celebrate every sport and cherish every athlete
Thanks!
Presentation by:
Muahmmad Basil ()
Abdur Rafay (2447188)
Shahroz Azeem (2447220)
Muhammad Rafay Odho (2447213)

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Hidden Gems: Unveiling

Pakistan's Underrated Sports

Pakistan International Football team Pakistan beats Tajikistan 6-1

3)Lack of support from the government

4)No support from the people of this country as well

Pakistan wins SAFF U16 championship

Institutions for officials (coaches)

Support from the locals

Sponsorship to legit grassroot

Player academies(tactical and technical studies)

Pakistan Women International Football team Licensed coaches

Limited access to high-speed internet in rural areas

5G area coverage map of Pakistan

Pakistan international Baseball team at United Arab Classic 2024

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