In Pakistan by virtue of having been at the top level in squash, cricket and hockey we are blessed to have legends who have the experience and exposure of the highest levels in their respective games. They advanced because of sheer hard work, determination, passion and resilience. Without these stalwarts, sports in Pakistan cannot improve. Our national heroes should be engaged in the advisory bodies of their respective games. The recommendations and proposals put forward by them should be implemented by the administrative team as the sports legends may not be the best administrators. I followed a similar arrangement in the PSF and can proudly say that all the great legends of the game were with me at one time and through them we were able to move ahead. Such an arrangement takes a lot of patience and credibility. The legends of the games can act as mentors for the aspiring youngsters and greatly influence their performance at higher levels. In this manner the players of yesteryears can transfer their experience to the next generation.Can Pakistan afford the luxury of building new sports infrastructure? The answer is a straight No. What however, needs to be done is sharing. Most of our educational institutions do not have the luxury of sports fields within their premises. But looking around there must be some sports field in the vicinity belonging to a district, club, cantonment or any other organisation. If this infrastructure is made available for the youth of that area irrespective of their association, it will at least be put to good use. Furthermore, a nominal commercial fee if charged for its maintenance or through branding options by the private sector would ensure its sustenance in the long run.

All sports associations must be strictly tasked to introduce the concept of leagues. This is a practice in vogue and followed in most of the playing nations. Through the leagues the players get an opportunity to play a match at least once a week. Leagues are played at different levels so as to give an opportunity to matching players to play against each other. Leagues could be between clubs, schools, colleges as well as universities. Leagues have minimal financial implications and a small amount would ensure its sustainability. Holding smaller prized money weekly or monthly tournaments and leagues is the key factor. Similar Leagues were arranged during my tenure in squash and tennis and they yielded positive effects on the players’ skills. Even cities like Swat during the difficult times of 2012-2013 got female players to participate in leagues and hugely promoted the game at the grassroots level.

Charged with the desire to make our players educated, I took an initiative in 2010 of putting in four of our top national players in one of the best boarding schools of Pakistan. Two players were enrolled in 6th Grade and two in 8th Grade along with a full-time coach to oversee their games and physical upbringing.

Regrettably, despite colossal efforts put in by the school administration and full financial support from our side amounting to millions, the experiment failed. The players performed well neither in education nor in sports. With a very heavy heart we had to pull back the players after one year.

As is done in some other counties, there is the need to develop a suitable syllabus that can suit the players’ tough sports schedule and education simultaneously as handling both of them will remain a challenge. Sports scholarships at all levels must be ensured. Liberal scholarships would certainly encourage sportsmen to pursue studies while catering to their financial requirements as well.

Federations and associations have some infra structure of their respective games. A few of them should be converted into academies, preferably at the district level.

Academies should not be used for playing purposes only but could be utilised as a platform to teach the rules of the game and to educate our sportsmen on basic mannerism, etiquettes, spoken English, etc. Realising the significance of such an arrangement, in 2011, a squash academy was established in Islamabad and is still being run successfully. A public-private relationship can also be worked out to offset the huge financial expenditure with a token contribution from the attendees also.

Most third world countries have relied on the structures of the first world in various fields.

The third world is progressively being left behind and the solution lies in honing our raw talent through the systems developed by the first world. This arrangement was followed in the past and World Champions like Qamar Zaman, Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan excelled at the international level in squash when they stayed and played in the UK.

In cricket also, the likes of Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, and Imran Khan polished their playing skills when they played leagues and tournaments abroad. Aisam Ul Haq, our Grand Slam tennis winner, had to move to Europe to excel in tennis.

Such an arrangement would require heavy funding and immense resources which may not be possible through the meagre budgets available to the federations.

Realising that there was a need to engage Pakistani diaspora abroad for a long-term sports exposure to our sportspersons, I was able to not only conduct fund-raising events but also signed MOUs with the like minded Pakistanis and clubs in the US for our squash players in 2013. With all sports, physical, technical and allied responsibilities being looked after by “Friends of Pakistan” in the host country, this arrangement was put in place while PIA funded the tickets. Federations must develop links with like-minded individuals in other countries and develop long term associations based on mutually acceptable TORs. In this manner we would also be able to identify Pakistanis abroad who are excelling in sports.

While the long-term measures are being put in place, as an immediate measure we should engage sportspersons of Pakistani descent to represent Pakistan. We have a few examples: Carla Khan in squash and Liana Swan in swimming. Countries like the US, France, South Africa and many others offer not only nationalities but also huge incentives to lure in the top world players to represent them.

Pakistan may not have too much to offer in terms of monetary gains but my experience with the Pakistani Diaspora has been highly positive. If they can send and sustain Pakistan’s economy through huge remittances, then they can also come forward to the cause, if engaged constructively with credibility and trust.

Only a few games should be chosen for this purpose to break the huge impasse that we are facing in sports today. Even a single achievement or medal could become a catalyst for many to emulate.

The diverse sports landscape of Pakistan can be optimally utilised if within the sports fraternity a culture and environment of “give respect and get respect” is encouraged. Sports democracy remains the way forward both at the national and international levels. The right type of people charged with the desire to do something for the country need to come forward. The zealous Pakistani diaspora should be engaged to host and arrange long-term exposures of our players abroad with sound financial incentives and interests. Our legends and stalwarts should be continuously engaged and their suggestions should be put in place by an administrative team. Sports need resources and more and more interest from the private sector should be stimulated for the right results.

Air Vice Marshal Syed Razi Nawab (retd) is an Ex Senior Vice President
of Pakistan Squash Federation,Vice President of Asian Squash Federation and an National and   International ranked   tennis player

rnawab60@gmail.com