Popular Sports Played in Pakistan Live Streams

Sports play a role in our culture and our personal lives, even if we aren't fans of the game. From the local level to the international arena, sports have pushed boundaries, sparked discussion, and even created progress for gender and racial equality.

National participation Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, had a great love for sport and always insisted on participating in sports. He emphasized that sports play a vital role in the development of a nation as they inculcate discipline and resilience, develop a sense of solidarity, and encourage the spirit of teamwork.

Popular Sports in Pakistan

Cricket is the most popular sport in Pakistan, while field hockey, polo, and squash are also popular. Traditional sports like kabaddi and other well-known games are also played. The Pakistan Sports Board was created in 1962 by the Ministry of Education as a corporate body to promote developing uniform standards of competition in sports in Pakistan comparable to the standards prevailing internationally and regulating and controlling sports in Pakistan on a national basis. The Ministry of Culture Sports, and Tourism now has control over the Pakistan Sports Board. 

Let's discuss the popular facts about sports in Pakistan.

Hockey (The National Sports in Pakistan) 

Hockey is the national sport of Pakistan. Pakistan has a very good international Hockey team. Pakistan is a member of the International Hockey Federation, and Pakistan participates in all major tournaments of international hockey. Pakistan has been one of the most successful teams in international competitions, having won a world record four Hockey World Cup titles. Hockey is popular in Pakistan. The team is considered a strong one. Traditionally, Pakistani Hockey has been filled with players of great talent. Pakistan has produced some great hockey players.

The game of field hockey was originally brought to Pakistan during the British Raj and, like cricket, became a popular sport among the local population. The Pakistan Hockey Federation came into being in 1948, following the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Before this, players from what is now Pakistan competed internationally alongside players from what is now India. In the beginning, the Federation's membership included the provincial hockey federations of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Bahawalpur, East Bengal, and the Pakistani Armed Forces Sports Board.

Cricket 

Cricket is not the national sport of Pakistan, but it is the most popular and most played among the Pakistani people. Almost all districts and neighborhoods in Pakistan have a cricket team, and people start playing at a young age. Pakistan's cricket team won the 1992 World Cup under the captaincy of Imran Khan. Pakistan were also runners-up at the 1999 Cricket World Cup, where they lost to Australia in the Final. They have been Semi-Finalists four times (1979, 1983, 1987, and 2011) and have also reached the quarterfinals twice (1996 and 2015).

Cricket remains the undisputed champion in terms of popularity in Pakistan in 2016, even though Pakistani soil has not seen much international cricket action. One can argue that the craze for cricket is not the same as it was in the 90s or 2000s (the decade), but this might just be artificial or seasonal. Whenever the Cricket World Cup or any other event arrives, the whole nation catches cricket fever. The passion runs high with a screening of matches in different public places. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of cricket clubs in different parts of the country, and many local tournaments are held in every city throughout the year. Kids still play tape-ball cricket in the streets and try to copy the style of superstars like Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, and Misbah ul Haq.

Football 

Pakistani football has a unique history, marked by moments of triumph and challenges. Despite facing various obstacles, the passion for football among Pakistani fans remains unwavering, highlighting the sport's enduring popularity and its ability to unite people across diverse backgrounds.

Football is among the most popular team sports in Pakistan, along with longtime number-one cricket and hockey. Pakistan's current top domestic football league is the Pakistan Premier League, formed with sixteen clubs to promote football in the country. The first national league began in 2003 and was immediately recognized by the AFC as the official national football league. Football, in general, is run by the Pakistan Football Federation.

The origin of football in Pakistan can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century, when the game was introduced during the British Raj. Initially, games were played between army teams. However, clubs were soon set up around the country. One of the regional federations to organize football in what is now Pakistan Territory was the North-West India Football Association, in which clubs from the city of Lahore and the surrounding region were active.

Squash

Squash is one of the most popular sports in Pakistan. Pakistan has hosted several international tournaments and has many professional training centers around the country. Pakistan reached its peak in the 1980s and 1990s, during the reigns of Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan. Pakistani squash player Jahangir Khan became a legend in his sport by going undefeated for five years. In the 1980s, Pakistani squash player Jahangir Khan became a legend in his sport by going undefeated for five years.

The Pakistan men's national squash team represents Pakistan in international squash team competitions and is governed by the Pakistan Squash Federation. Since 1967, Pakistan has won 23 World Squash Team Open titles.

The last time a Pakistani won the championship was in 1986, when the legendary Jansher Khan lifted the trophy. Since then, only two Pakistanis have managed to make it to the final, the last in 2008.

Kabaddi

Kabaddi is the most popular traditional sport and cultural heritage of the people of Pakistan. It is played in hot countries in Asia, but it is very popular in the Pak-Hind Sub-continent. In Pakistan, it is mostly played by villagers who live there, and they hold competitions for kabaddi in different cultural festivals. The style of the game varies a little in some countries, but it is liked and appreciated by the people in general. Pakistan national Kabaddi team represents Pakistan in international Kabaddi. The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation manages the team. Tahir Waheed Jutt is the head coach of the team. Muhammad Irfan is the captain of the team, and Shafiq Ahmad is the vice captain of the team.

The Pakistan national Kabaddi team is one of the strongest sides in the world. Pakistan has regularly won medals in the Asian Games and World Cups. In seven previous Asian Games, they won five bronze medals and two silver medals.