A playing field
Karachi, the teeming city of millions, a metropolis larger than any other in the country, continues to grow unstoppably defending its identity as the business hub of Pakistan. It also has its highs and lows, surviving the vagaries of day-to-day problems.
Despite the odds, however, the city has learnt to face many of its problems in the hope that one day the clouds of doom and gloom to may fade away giving way to a ray of hope to bring some smile on faces. Businesses continue to grow, cultural, political and sports activities remain a part of life.
In pre-Partition days, the Parsis led the way. Be it business or sports they were the ones who always remained at the forefront. Cricket, which they had learnt how to play from the colonialists and adopted it as their own game, was as much a part of them as was their acumen in promoting their trade in every walk of life.
Karachi Gymkhana’s contribution to the game of cricket is unforgettable
That was the reason why they also developed a fine cricket ground at the Karachi Parsi Institute (KPI) in the centre of the city in 1893 where regular matches were played between the Parsis, the Hindus, the Muslims, the Britishers, etc.
But much before that it was the Karachi Gymkhana (founded in 1886) on Club Road that provided for its members facilities to play cricket, hockey, polo, badminton and billiard. No wonder then that Karachi Gymkhana holds a special place in the history of subcontinental cricket like the Pindi Club in Rawalpindi and the Bagh-e-Jinnah (formerly Lawrence Gardens).
The legacy continues to flourish as regular matches and tournaments are held at the Karachi Gymkhana as they are at Lahore Gymkhana’s cricket ground.