MINISTER for Information Fawad Chaudhry has announced the establishment of a government-run channel exclusively for cricket.

This shows that the PTI government is following the previous governments when it comes to sports. This step has disappointed hopes of hockey lovers. Previous governments had adopted discriminatory policies towards hockey, ignoring the national sport.

Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali once ordered hockey team to be sent for a tournament to represent Pakistan in 1948 when the newly-born country was facing so many challenges. One can imagine how important hockey would have been for Jinnah.

Despite this, the previous governments patronised cricket at the cost of our national game.

The living standards of cricketers are high and there can be no comparison between a national team’s cricketer and a hockey player.

Pakistan have been four times world champions in hockey, while they won three Olympic hockey gold medals. Hockey has potential to regain its lost glory and restore national pride.

That can only happen if people at the helm of country’s affairs take interest in the sport.

The PTI government should give priority to the national sport.

Qaim Ali Shah Mansabdar

Swabi

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2018