THE euphoria following the thrilling climax of the Pakistan Super League spilled over to the next week. In fact, the excitement extends beyond cricket to other sports — both on and off the field. Over the weekend, Pakistan’s cricket team completed a 3-0 whitewash of Bangladesh in their first Twenty20 International series triumph since last December. The national team showed a fearless approach during newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson’s first series as in-charge. Also over the weekend, there was glory for Pakistan on the athletics field in South Korea as javelin star Arshad Nadeem clinched gold at the Asian Athletics Championships. Success for the Olympic champion marked Pakistan’s first victory at the competition since 1973, with Arshad now gunning for greater glory at the World Athletics Championships later this year. Earlier in the week, Arshad was honoured by the Asian Athletics Federation as the continent’s best athlete. The past week also saw the long-awaited Pakistan Football Federation elections take place in Lahore. Ten years since the last elections sparked a crisis and six after football’s national governing body was placed under the control of a FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, there is an elected leadership at the helm. With former FIFA development officer Mohsen Gilani becoming Pakistan’s football chief, the hope is that the sport can move on from years of infighting.

Things are looking bright for the Pakistan cricket team as it gears up for next year’s T20 World Cup. Against Bangladesh, the team showed newfound dynamism, powered by players who had sparkled during the PSL, where Lahore Qalandars’ record-breaking final chase saw them clinch the title. Efforts must be made to ensure the team continues in the same vein. Arshad’s triumph, meanwhile, is a reminder for the government to uplift sports other than cricket. Olympic sports and football are being used by countries as tools to project soft power as well as diplomacy. Pakistan should do the same.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2025