National Games or National Failure? Afghan Players, Silent Authorities, and the Cost Paid by Pakistani Athletes

 

Musarrat Ullah  Jan – KikxNow , Digital Creator

The National Games are meant to be the highest domestic sporting platform in Pakistan. They exist to identify talent, reward years of hard work, and give Pakistani athletes a fair chance to compete, progress, and represent their country. What unfolded at the recent National Games in Karachi, however, raises serious questions about whether that purpose still holds. The participation of Afghan players under Pakistani provincial banners is not just a controversy. It is a symptom of deeper administrative decay, weak governance, and a troubling indifference toward athletes’ rights.

This issue is not about nationality in isolation. It is about process, transparency, and fairness. When non-citizens compete in an event designed specifically for Pakistani athletes, without clear rules or disclosure, the entire system loses credibility. What makes the situation worse is not only what happened on the field, but what followed off it: silence, denial, and institutional paralysis.

Reports and video evidence show Afghan players competing in different sports while representing teams from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. These were not isolated incidents or accidental oversights. Individuals associated with relevant sports associations were involved in fielding these players. This strongly suggests that the issue goes beyond clerical error and points toward deliberate accommodation or willful neglect.

The seriousness of the matter is underscored by the fact that a related case is currently under hearing at the Balochistan High Court. Once an issue enters the judicial domain, it is no longer a rumor or social media noise. It becomes a question of legality and accountability. Yet, despite this, the response from sports authorities has been muted at best.

So far, credible information has emerged regarding at least two different sports. In Balochistan, while the situation itself is problematic, there is at least visible resistance. Voices have been raised against the inclusion of Afghan players in provincial teams. Questions are being asked, objections recorded, and the issue acknowledged as a problem. That, at minimum, reflects a functioning sense of accountability.

The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is far more disturbing. Here, it has been quietly accepted that Pakistani athletes were deprived of their rightful place. Evidence exists in the form of videos showing Afghan players who have previously represented Afghanistan, wearing their national flag, now competing at the National Games under Pakistani banners. The same athletes, the same faces, but a different flag when convenient. This is not a technical loophole. It is a fundamental breach of sporting integrity.

The central injustice lies with Pakistani athletes. These are young men and women who train for years, often with minimal resources, in hopes of performing at national events like the National Games. Selection for such an event can define an athlete’s career. When that opportunity is taken away and handed to someone else through opaque decisions, the damage is not just professional but psychological. It erodes trust in the system.

This is where sports federations and associations must be questioned. Are they unaware of who represents them, or are they choosing not to know? Either scenario is unacceptable. The Pakistan Olympic Association, along with provincial Olympic associations, carries the responsibility of ensuring that national events follow clear eligibility rules. Their failure to intervene or even publicly clarify their position has only deepened the crisis.

Notably, no formal protest or official letter of objection has emerged from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far. In one sport, the relevant association president confirmed that Afghan players did compete. However, when asked what steps were taken after the issue surfaced, communication abruptly stopped. This silence is telling. It reflects an institutional culture where acknowledging a problem is considered sufficient, while addressing it is optional.

The issue extends beyond the National Games themselves. Videos have also surfaced showing Afghan players entering government-linked sports departments, including one case involving the Pakistan Railways. A provincial sports directorate coach confirmed the player’s association with Railways. Railways officials, on the other hand, denied formally recruiting any Afghan national. They did, however, express regret that official team kits were worn by someone not authorized to represent the department, explaining that the kits were given “out of goodwill.”

This explanation raises more questions than it answers. Team kits are not souvenirs. They symbolize representation and legitimacy. If kits can be distributed casually, and worn by players whose status is unclear, then the entire concept of departmental sports structures collapses. Appeals have been made to the Federal Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi, and other officials. Whether these appeals lead to meaningful action remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association secretary has publicly claimed ignorance of any Afghan player representing the province. According to him, all athlete cards were checked before teams were dispatched. He added that if any association member acted independently, action should be taken against them. On paper, this sounds reassuring. In practice, it is deeply problematic.

If cards were checked and violations still occurred, then the checking process was either superficial or compromised. If the violations occurred without the association’s knowledge, then it points to a complete lack of control. Both possibilities indicate institutional failure. Worse still, no formal complaint has even been submitted to the KPOA so far, which raises the question of whether the system is designed to discourage accountability.

This controversy is not about opposing Afghan athletes as individuals. Sports can and should build bridges. Foreign participation is common in many competitions, but always under defined rules. What is unacceptable is a double standard where rules exist on paper but are ignored in practice. Provincial sports directorates have yet to issue a clear statement explaining how many Afghan players competed, in which sports, and under what authority. Associations, meanwhile, continue to avoid taking a definitive stance.

The implications extend into the future. The upcoming elections of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Olympic Association will inevitably be influenced by this controversy. Officials who have occupied the same positions for years are now being judged not by their statements but by their inaction. If they cannot protect the rights of their own provincial athletes, their claims of national or international leadership ring hollow.

At its core, this episode reflects a broader crisis in Pakistan’s sports governance. Rules exist, but enforcement is selective. Authority exists, but responsibility is avoided. Athletes exist, but their voices are rarely heard. The National Games should showcase talent and unity. Instead, they have exposed confusion, inconsistency, and a troubling absence of moral clarity.

 

The question now is not whether Afghan players competed. That has already been established. The real question is whether Pakistan’s sports institutions are willing to confront the truth, identify those responsible, and implement transparent policies going forward. Without that, the National Games risk becoming a ceremonial event devoid of meaning, where fairness is negotiable and merit is optional.

If this issue is brushed aside, the message to Pakistani athletes will be clear: effort does not guarantee opportunity, and loyalty to the system is not rewarded. That is a message no sporting nation can afford to send.

 

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