Arshad NadeemThe historic gold medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has sparked more than just national pride.
The javelin thrower’s extraordinary achievement not only earned him overnight fame but also made him a millionaire with a staggering bounty of Rs 250 crore.
The Olympic gold medal won by Arshad Nadeem has injected a new wave of hope into PakistanCricket and athletics mark a new chapter in the country’s sporting history. However, this euphoria is marred by a controversy that highlights the tense intersection between cricket and athletics in Pakistan.
Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic triumph overshadowed by Pakistan cricket dominance
Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) President Muhammad Akram Sahi has expressed concern over the negative impact of cricket’s dominance on the development of other sports in Pakistan. According to Sahi, the arrival of the Bangladesh cricket team for the Test series poses a major threat to Arshad Nadeem’s training programme.
He Bangladesh cricket teamNadeem’s exclusive access to training facilities in Lahore means that despite his recent success and growing interest in athletics, he continues to struggle to find suitable places to train. Sahi said the lack of adequate training facilities has been a recurring problem for Nadeem, who now also faces challenges in terms of practice ground.
The Bangladesh team is currently in Pakistan for a two-match Test series, which will begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi. The second and final Test will be played in Karachi from August 30. But the Tigers are currently training in Lahore and Sahi rued the restriction on Nadeem’s ability to practice there.
Bangladesh’s arrival is not good news for Arshad Nadeem: Muhammad Akram Sahi
Muhammad Akram Sahi said on Samaa TV: “The arrival of the Bangladesh cricket team is not good news for me or Arshad Nadeem. Bangladesh will train in Lahore and Arshad will not be allowed to practice. The biggest problem for him is the lack of ground where he can train whenever he wants.”
As Pakistani cricket monopolises the spotlight and resources, athletes like Nadeem find themselves marginalised and struggling to find a place to train. The need for athletics highlights a pressing problem in Pakistan’s sporting infrastructure.
Nadeem’s story is a testament to his resilience and talent, but it also highlighted a broader challenge facing Pakistan’s athletics community. Earlier, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali said that the PCB could lose the hosting rights of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 if any small incident occurs in the country.
Basit Ali: Any mishap will see Pakistan lose its right to host the 2025 Champions Trophy
Basit said on his YouTube channel: “The Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan. After Bangladesh, England and West Indies are also scheduled to travel to Pakistan and we need to step up our security. God forbid that any mishap (during these tours) will result in Pakistan losing the hosting rights of the Champions Trophy.
“Our soldiers are being martyred in Balochistan and Peshawar. Our government can explain the reasons better, but what is happening is wrong. We cannot afford even a small slip-up. We should provide the same level of security to visiting teams as we do to the Prime Minister. There cannot be a minor incident. PCB Chairman Mohsin will be aware of this.”
