Rao Dilshad Hussain

The tendency of politicising sports has been a continual trend since many decades, but what is more deplorable is that this trend is on a rise. The current scenario has become rather interesting, as the ruling elites and politicians have started taking keen interest in domestic sports. Recently during Waqt News’ popular sports show ‘Game Beat,’ the former Prime Minister Ch. Shujaat Hussain, President of Pakistan Kabbadi Federation, donated Rs.10 million to the Pakistan Tennis Federation. It was given upon the request of Senator Dillawer Abbas, President of Tennis Federation. Hafiz Imran and Rabia Qadir disclosed this fact during the show.

During the show these influential politicians gave their strong opinions about the plight of sport in Pakistani. Ch. Shujaat on this note expressed, “Promotion of every sport is the need of the hour. People are fed up of reading news about terrorism and crimes while sports provide them with some sort of entertainment. We can not deny the role of sport in the modern age because it produces healthy societies.”

Ch. Shujaat confessed that in the past politically influential people were given important designations such that of cricket, hockey, football, squash, tennis and many others. The same trend is being continued till date. A number of non-professionals who know nothing about sports are running sports federations like Ch. Shujaat is heading the Kabbadi Federation without any prior knowledge or being a player. According to him it is very cheap sport and everybody can play easily and that during kabbadi matches the stadiums are full with crowed and kabbadi lovers. Ch. Shujaat further maintained, “Imran Khan is stepping forward successfully as a politician but it would be better for the future of the Pakistan cricket if Imran gives his precious time to cricket. He urged that sports federations should be run by an honest, capable and competent person rather than politically influential ones.”

He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is still working as the chairman of PCB despite humiliating defeat of the Pakistani cricket team during their tours of Australia and England. He further said, “He is still the chairman because of his strong political affiliations with the President of Pakistan. This practice should be an end.”

Ch. Shujaat revealed old secrets of General Zia ul Haq’s regime when he appointed General Safdar as the Chairman of WAPDA and later as the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board. But Safdar refused to accept the PCB position stating his lack of experience regarding cricket, but then Zia reminded him that he did not have to know about WAPDA to run it. The same approach of politicising sports has been continuing since decades. This approach should come to an end and the politicians should not run sports federations of the country.

During the show Ch. Shujaat showed his keen interest in the promotion of women tennis. But Senator Dilawer Abbas sadly expressed, “Within the country nobody is ready to sponsor tennis while everybody is ready to sponsor cricket. Cricketers can easily earn millions of dollars annually while tennis players just earn $2500. Government has allocated only few hundred thousands to Pakistan Tennis Federation contrary to its hefty monthly maintenance of the single tennis stadium.”

He said that Prime Minister preferred to allocate Rs.50 millions to the Hockey Federation because of his preference towards President Qasim Zia. He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is also misusing the powers because of his strong political backing. He further added that one should willingly surrender their powers and separate themselves from the power corridors.

Dilawar further said, “I wish I could construct tennis complexes in the same passion I serve the federation.” He revealed that when he was nominated for the presidential post of the tennis federation, then he asked his contender about tennis. But as his contender did not have enough knowledge, he agreed not to take over the federation.

“The political appointments of ineligible people have destroyed the Pakistani sports. Because of them sports are heading towards a decline.” Senator Dilawer Abbas was of the view.