Arshad Nadeem won gold at the Islamic Games with an 83-metre throw, but questions about selection and accountability in Pakistan sports have grown louder after research by Muhammad Ishtiaq Kiani. Kiani’s findings suggest that had a player who managed an 85-metre throw been present, Arshad Nadeem’s standing could have shifted, and this scenario highlights broader systemic problems within Pakistan sports.
Kiani has raised serious concerns about how officials and selectors operate, pointing to the controversial involvement of Salman Butt as a coach for Arshad Nadeem and Yasir Sultan despite Butt’s lifetime ban. He asks who authorised Butt’s role and why such decisions were allowed without transparency.
Further issues were flagged around the high jump selection, where an athlete sent to compete lost and questions remain about who approved his participation. The Athletics Federation has denied sending that high jumper and says the athlete did not attend trials, yet he was reportedly selected and dispatched abroad, deepening doubts over selection procedures.
Kiani also highlighted disparities in rewards and recognition. In squash, a young player named Suhail reportedly won a medal and received a 5 million rupee prize from Punjab, while another athlete, identified as Danish Atlaj, who proudly raised Pakistan’s flag after winning with a 71-code result, says he has not received any support and is struggling. These conflicting cases of praise and neglect have provoked criticism about inconsistent athlete support.
Another contentious point raised by Kiani is the removal of cycling from the 35th National Games despite cycling events contributing medals internationally. He says removing cycling from national competitions is a worrying sign and a symptom of mismanagement that undermines athletes who perform on the world stage.
According to Muhammad Ishtiaq Kiani, all these examples are interconnected and point to failures in how federations and selectors are treated and held accountable. He urges immediate reforms, respect for federation procedures, and the creation of a unified platform where stakeholders work together so that assigned responsibilities are carried out professionally for the benefit of Pakistan sports.
