2025 proved to be a roller-coaster yr for Pakistan’s sports activities, that includes occasions of celebration alongside disappointing moments.
In cricket, Pakistan recorded a number of notable achievements in choose codecs, however inconsistent performances in main tournaments prevented sustained success on the highest stage.
Hockey offered a uncommon constructive headline as Pakistan certified for the Professional Hockey League after a number of years, following New Zealand’s determination to withdraw from the competitors.
In athletics, javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem failed to satisfy expectations on the World Athletics Championships however made a comeback by successful gold medals on the Islamic Solidarity Video games and the Nationwide Video games.
Pakistan’s native expertise additionally made its mark in sports activities reminiscent of squash, volleyball and snooker, securing notable victories at regional and worldwide ranges.
Cricket
Let’s begin with the cricket. Pakistan opened the yr by internet hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the nation’s first ICC event on house grounds because the 1996 World Cup.
The hosts’ marketing campaign, nevertheless, was short-lived, as Inexperienced Shirts had been knocked out of the occasion after shedding their opening two matches.
Handshake controversy
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated in Might when the nuclear-armed neighbours engaged in a quick army conflict. The strained relations carried over to the Asia Cup T20I event within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the place India gained all three matches towards Pakistan, together with the ultimate.
In the course of the event, Indian gamers refused to just accept the winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi and declined to shake arms with their Pakistani counterparts on the toss and after matches. A number of gamers from either side had been seen making provocative gestures, prompting the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) to contemplate sanctions for breaches of conduct.
Whereas the boys’s worldwide crew struggled to satisfy expectations, the nation discovered causes for optimism in its youth and rising sides, because the Underneath-19 and rising junior groups clinched Asia Cup titles.
The Pakistan Shaheens lifted the Males’s Asia Cup Rising Stars title in Doha, overcoming Bangladesh A in an exhilarating ultimate that went right down to a Tremendous Over, marking Pakistan’s report third triumph within the event.
Success was not restricted to the Rising Stars title. Within the twenty first version of the Hong Kong Sixes, Pakistan defeated Kuwait by 43 runs on the Mission Street Floor in Mong Kok.
The much-anticipated glory of the yr got here within the U19 Asia Cup, the place Pakistan produced a powerful 191-run victory over arch-rivals India within the ultimate on the ICC Academy Floor. Opener Sameer Minhas starred with a record-breaking 172 — the very best particular person rating in a U19 Asia Cup ultimate.
Hockey
Hockey in Pakistan has seen a pointy decline over the previous few many years, largely resulting from administrative challenges, underinvestment, and insufficient infrastructure. Nonetheless, renewed efforts are underway to revive the nationwide sport, with elevated authorities backing, youth growth initiatives, and better worldwide engagement aimed toward returning Pakistan to its former glory.
This yr, Pakistan’s hockey revival gained momentum on the Nationwide Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, the place the crew reached the ultimate of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup for the primary time in 11 years, since their look within the 2014 Champions Trophy ultimate in Bhubaneswar. The crew carried out admirably on the Nations Cup, in the end clinching the silver medal.
The nationwide crew additionally featured within the Professional Hockey League after a number of years, following New Zealand’s determination to withdraw from the competitors.
Athletics: Arshad’s golds
Pakistan’s greatest athletics title continued to show abroad appearances into podium finishes, regardless of some setbacks.
Olympic gold medal winner Arshad Nadeem gained javelin gold on the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, with a throw of 86.40m.
Later, he added one other abroad win on the Islamic Solidarity Video games in Riyadh, the place he took javelin gold with an 83.05m throw.
In a yr the place Pakistan’s worldwide sporting identification leaned closely on people, Arshad saved Pakistan seen at high-profile meets.
Cue sports activities
Snooker is one thing that Pakistan can at all times depend on to deliver house outcomes. It once more offered Pakistan with essentially the most returns, delivering outcomes throughout codecs and age teams.
In Muscat, Oman, Muhammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal gained the IBSF World Cup of Group Snooker 2025, beating Hong Kong (China-2) 3–2 in a comeback ultimate to safe the crew crown.
Bahrain has two feel-good moments: the established champion including one other main trophy, and the following technology saying itself.
Within the IBSF World Masters ultimate, Asif edged India’s Brijesh Damani 4–3 to win the title. And within the under-17 bracket, Mohammad Hasnain Akhtar claimed the IBSF World Underneath-17 Snooker Championship, defeating Riley Powell of Wales 4–0 within the ultimate.
Put collectively, it was a uncommon full-spectrum yr: a world crew title, a significant particular person crown, and a junior world champion.
Squash
Pakistan’s squash story in 2025 was about outcomes logged on the highway.
In London, Ontario, Noor Zaman gained the Nash Cup 2025, beating Egypt’s Moustafa Elsirty 3–0. The match changed into a marathon first sport (19–17) earlier than Zaman closed it out in straight video games.
In the USA, Muhammad Ashab Irfan captured the St Louis Open 2025 in Missouri, beating England’s Charlie Lee 3–0 within the ultimate (11–7, 11–2, 11–7). It was the form of tour win that issues in accumulation: not one massive second, however repeated proof that Pakistani gamers can journey and take titles.
Mountaineering: historical past made
Away from standard sport, Pakistan additionally recorded a landmark achievement in high-altitude climbing.
By summiting Kangchenjunga, Sirbaz Khan grew to become the primary Pakistani to finish all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres with out supplemental oxygen, a global-category milestone that locations him amongst a really small group worldwide.
