At the Pakistan Super League final closing ceremony at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Mohsin Nawaz was recognised under the PSL’s Hamaray Heroes initiative for his contributions to F-Class long-range shooting. The event brought together cricket officials, players and athletes from across disciplines as the league drew to a close, and Nawaz used the platform to highlight the place of shooting sports in Pakistan’s wider sporting landscape.
Nawaz thanked PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and the selection panel for the recognition, saying the honour highlights a sport that has often existed outside mainstream attention. He praised the Pakistan Cricket Board for organising a successful tournament and for using its reach to shine a light on achievements beyond cricket, which he said will help broaden awareness of precision sports in the country.
The Hamaray Heroes programme, launched during the PSL’s fifth season in 2020, honours individuals across sports, education, healthcare, arts, social work and entrepreneurship. A PCB panel reviews nominations and shortlists recipients who are celebrated during matches, receive cash awards and have short films about their work shown during broadcasts and on the league’s digital platforms. Nawaz described the initiative as meaningful recognition for athletes in less-publicised disciplines.
A 42-year-old from Faisalabad, Mohsin Nawaz has forged a two-decade career in F-Class long-range shooting and holds 10 international individual medals, the highest tally for any Pakistani in the discipline. His international breakthrough in 2018 came when he became the first Pakistani to win gold at the NRA USA National Long Range Championship, a milestone that raised his profile on the global stage.
Nawaz’s record includes a silver medal at the 2023 European Long Range Championship at Bisley and a strong showing at the 2022 Western Bisley Long Range Championship where he secured three gold and two silver medals across multiple range categories. In 2023 he set a new Pakistan mark at Bisley’s 800-yard range with a score of 75.13 V-points, improving the national standard in long-range competition.
Other international podium finishes include silver at the 2019 CIHPRS Championship in Indianapolis and bronze at the 2021 South Africa Long Range Open Championship. Nawaz has been nominated for the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in recognition of his achievements; if conferred at the scheduled investiture later in May 2026, he would become the first shooter in Pakistan to receive the civilian honour.
At the ceremony Nawaz urged greater institutional support for shooting, calling for the establishment of 50-metre ranges in major cities and reforms to import policies to make equipment more accessible to aspiring athletes. He argued that with improved facilities and policy backing Pakistan could produce internationally competitive shooters across multiple disciplines and offer new pathways for young talent.
He also acknowledged the role of provincial support, thanking Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her administration’s encouragement of sports initiatives. Nawaz said government backing for athletic programmes promotes healthier lifestyles and opens opportunities for youth across provinces, reinforcing the need for coordinated public and private investment in a wider range of sports.
Mohsin Nawaz described his Hamaray Heroes recognition as a step toward broader acceptance of precision sports and expressed hope that the attention will inspire young athletes to pursue excellence outside cricket. He thanked the PCB for highlighting non-cricket achievements on a national stage and said the gesture can help change perceptions and expand Pakistan’s sporting footprint.
