While Pakistan has yet to achieve the desired global rankings in basketball, the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) has consistently maintained commendable standards, fostering the sport’s development across the country.

Basketball was not foreign to Pakistanis at the time of independence in 1947. Many missionary schools in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Sialkot had already established basketball teams, as the sport had been introduced to the subcontinent years earlier.

The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), with branches in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, played a significant role in promoting basketball.

Similarly, Pakistan Railways supported the game through its divisional teams, organising Inter-Divisional Basketball Tournaments to foster competition.

The Pakistan Amateur Basketball Federation was founded in 1952, becoming the national body responsible for promoting and developing basketball in Pakistan. The federation later affiliated with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC).

A turning point came when Brigadier Rasheed, a leading Pakistani basketball player, took charge of the PBBF. His leadership breathed new life into the game.

Several outstanding basketball players emerged during this time, including Ghulam Fareed, Agha Arshad, Nasrullah, Majid Khan, and Muhammad Azam. Mohammad Akram from Pakistan Railways made his mark among the junior players.

Pakistan achieved notable success in 1975, finishing as runners-up in the RCD Championship. The 1980s and 1990s saw a steady rise in basketball, culminating in significant achievements through 2000s.

Pakistan participated in the FIBA Asia Cup ten times, delivering encouraging performances. Additionally, the national team featured in the South Asian Games basketball events, winning silver medals in 1995, 1999, and 2004.

One of Pakistan’s biggest successes came in 1979 when they finished 6th in the Asian Basketball Championship, outperforming teams like Iran and Malaysia.

Khalid Bashir, a renowned player nicknamed “Baby”, was instrumental in furthering the game’s growth. Under his leadership, the PBBF, affiliated with the Pakistan Sports Board and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), continued to make strides in basketball development.

Pakistan’s presence at the regional level strengthened in recent decades, highlighted by their silver medal at the 2013 South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) Championship and three silver medals in the South Asian Games.

The PBBF also focused on raising women’s and under-19 teams, establishing the sport at the grassroots level. The federation organised numerous national events, while also hosting regional and international competitions.

In 2018, PBBF sent Sana Mahmud, captain of Pakistan’s women’s basketball team, to represent the country at the inaugural Asian Mini Basketball Convention in Sri Lanka. Sana brought back valuable insights on how to teach basketball to children in a fun and engaging way.

However, basketball in Pakistan faced setbacks due to the emergence of rival federations, creating a period of uncertainty. Fortunately, the courts and the Pakistan Olympic Association intervened, recognising Brigadier (Retd) Mansoor Iftikhar as PBBF President and Khalid Bashir as Secretary, restoring stability.

The current PBBF is making commendable efforts, but much remains to be done to meet future challenges. Recently, the federation organised the National Inter-Departmental Basketball Championship and hosted a FIBA Statistician Workshop in Islamabad, marking a significant step forward for the sport. This workshop, conducted by a FIBA-appointed instructor, aimed to train Pakistan’s first-ever FIBA-licensed statisticians, enhancing the technical expertise required for high-level basketball events.

The affiliated units of the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) are making commendable strides in promoting and advancing the sport across the country. The Federal Basketball Association (FBBA), under the dynamic leadership of president Ouj E Zahoor, who also serves as the Associate Secretary of the PBBF, has been instrumental in fostering the growth of basketball in the capital. In Sindh, particularly Karachi (Karachi Basketball Association), the sport has been kept vibrant by Ghulam Muhammad Khan, one of the province’s finest sports organisers, who consistently arranges basketball events, providing valuable opportunities for players and officials to engage in healthy, competitive activities.

In Punjab, especially in Lahore, the game is being managed with professionalism by Khalid Bashir, while other regional units are equally dedicated to putting forth their best efforts to promote basketball in Pakistan. With such collective dedication and hard work, the future of basketball in the country appears promising and bright.

Despite these strides, Pakistan basketball still faces considerable challenges in building a competitive national team for regional and international competitions. A sustainable solution lies in developing the sport at the grassroots level. The PBBF must work with schools, colleges, and universities to organise inter-school, inter-collegiate, and inter-varsity tournaments, as well as inter-district, inter-divisional, and inter-provincial competitions. Government support and sponsorship will also play a crucial role in this endeavor.

As the elected governing body for basketball, the PBBF is responsible for meeting these challenges and steering the sport toward a brighter future.