Pakistan’s national football team star and Under-23 captain, Abdullah Shah, has said that football is the world’s most popular sport, played in 206 countries, while cricket largely remains a South Asian game, played in only about 20 countries. He stressed that establishing a professional football league in Pakistan is essential for the game’s promotion.
According to Shah, football has gained notable traction in Pakistan over the past few years, with stadiums now drawing large crowds for matches. He noted that promoting sports at the school and college level could help channel the energy of the youth and bring forward hidden talent, ultimately steering the younger generation away from destructive habits.
President of Pakistan Mini Football, Mubashir Sanjrani, echoed these views, emphasizing the need for long-term government planning to enable Pakistan’s participation in international tournaments. “At present, no South Asian country, including India and Pakistan, is competing at the global stage,” he said. “It took Japan nearly two decades to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and we must adopt a similar long-term vision.”
Sanjrani made these remarks at a ceremony held in Islamabad at the FAY office, before departing for a football event in Uzbekistan. During the event, he interacted with talented footballers from the capital’s schools and colleges, offering encouragement and autographs.
Abdullah Shah, sharing his personal journey, said his passion for football began in school and grew into an obsession by college. “Until a few years ago, football wasn’t as popular, but since 2022, the sport has been gaining momentum in Pakistan,” he said. Shah has represented the country in Afghanistan, India, Brazil, China, Nepal, Bahrain, the Maldives, Mauritius, and several other countries, and has secured a gold medal for Pakistan.
Highlighting the sport’s rising popularity, Shah noted that a recent match in Quetta attracted nearly 40,000 spectators, while the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia fixture drew more than 26,000 fans. “Our youth are Pakistan’s future,” he said. “We must protect them from drugs and depression by encouraging them towards sports and religious values. Athletes remain shielded from such vices, but this requires parents and the government to play their part.”
Sanjrani also pointed out the damaging impact of politics on Pakistan’s sporting progress. “If politics is removed from sports, Pakistan can shine globally in every field,” he remarked. He added that FIFA-imposed suspensions have wasted valuable time and talent, while also preventing the country from accessing international funds due to frozen accounts. “Sports can contribute significantly to the national economy if promoted properly,” he said.
Currently, football federations and organizations are working on self-help models to promote the game. “A few years ago, stadiums were empty, but today, thousands attend football matches across Pakistan,” Sanjrani added. He called for renewed inter-school and inter-college competitions, along with restoring playgrounds in neighborhoods and communities to nurture grassroots talent.
Prominent social and business leaders Khalid Pervaiz and Ahsan Siddiqui also addressed the gathering, stressing that sports are vital to saving youth from drugs, depression, and excessive use of social media. They welcomed the private sector’s growing role in sponsoring football, alongside cricket, calling it a positive sign for the sport’s revival in Pakistan.
