Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 — Pakistan’s Sporting Shame Wrapped in Bureaucracy and Nepotism

Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 — Pakistan’s Sporting Shame Wrapped in Bureaucracy and Nepotism

Editorial by: Shahid Ulhaq, Senior Sports Jurnalist

The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025, scheduled from 7 to 21 November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promise to be a grand celebration of unity, faith, and athletic excellence among Muslim nations.

Saudi Arabia has already raised the bar by preparing world-class venues, a modern athletes’ village, and a spectacular cultural show to represent the collective strength of the Muslim sporting world.

But while the world looks forward to an event of glory and brotherhood, Pakistan once again stands in the shadows of administrative chaos, ego, and injustice — a tragedy repeated far too often in our sports history.

No Contingent, No Clarity — Only Confusion ;

With barely days to go before the Games, neither the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) nor the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has officially announced the Pakistani contingent. No athlete list. No coaching staff confirmation. No media unveiling.

Instead, there are conflicting names, political maneuvering, and behind-the-door selections that have left deserving athletes and coaches humiliated. This deliberate silence is not professionalism — it is criminal negligence towards the people who actually represent Pakistan.

Athletics Without Its True Mentor — A Disgraceful Omission ;

The exclusion of legendary coach Fayaz Bukhari from the athletics contingent is nothing short of disgraceful. He is the architect of Pakistan’s only world-class athletics success story — the man who groomed Olympic hero Arshad Nadeem.

Yet, despite his proven record, he has been dropped from the official list, replaced by handpicked individuals with little or no technical credibility. This decision is not just poor judgment — it is a betrayal of merit and an insult to every hardworking athlete and coach in Pakistan.

Nepotism Over Merit — The POA’s Old Recipe for Failure ;

The POA’s internal politics have long suffocated Pakistan’s sports structure. The same culture of nepotism, favouritism, and personal loyalty continues to define selections.

Instead of choosing based on results, the POA continues to reward those who serve the system — not the sport. The recent example of sending an internationally banned weightlifting official to the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, while the real medal-winning lifters were left home, still echoes as a shameful memory.

And now, that same injustice is being repeated — officials go for tourism, while athletes are left fighting for recognition.

POA vs PSB — The Battle of Egos, Not Ideas ;

The ongoing tug of war between the POA and PSB has reached its ugliest point. Instead of working together to elevate sports, both institutions are fighting for control — not for progress.

The victims of this battle are always the same — the athletes.
Training schedules disrupted. Selection lists delayed. Preparations ignored. Funding misused.

This is not governance — this is ego-driven destruction of national sport.

Olympic Values Betrayed ;

Fair play, merit, equality, and respect — the fundamental Olympic values — are once again trampled by those meant to uphold them.

When banned officials are rewarded, when legendary coaches are sidelined, and when athletes are ignored for political favourites, the spirit of the Olympic Movement dies a silent death in Pakistan.

It’s time to call this what it is — systemic corruption hidden behind administrative titles.

Riyadh Will Shine — But Pakistan May Fade ;

The Islamic Solidarity Games 2025 will undoubtedly be a monumental event. Saudi Arabia is ready with the best facilities, state-of-the-art venues, and a vision to unite the Muslim world through sport.

But Pakistan may arrive once again as a divided, disorganized, and demoralized contingent — a nation full of potential but crushed by its own mismanagement.

Unless immediate corrective action is taken — All official lists and criteria must be made public Deserving coaches like Fayaz Bukhari must be reinstated

The POA–PSB conflict must end immediately — Pakistan will not just lose medals; it will lose dignity.

Because true victory is not measured by the number of gold medals — it is measured by honesty, integrity, and respect for merit.