UNIVERSITY GAMES SCANDALS— BOLD STEP BY PSB COMMETTI
By: Sports Friend, Shahid Ulhaq
Once again, Pakistani sports have been dragged into global embarrassment. The FISU World University Games 2025, held in Germany, turned into a showcase of administrative failures, nepotism, and financial irregularities. The fact-finding committee formed by the Pakistan Sports Board has now exposed truths that for years had been brushed under the carpet.
The committee laid out in clear terms that the non-transparent selection of players, absence of qualified coaches, sending unprepared athletes to the field, and the wastage of billions in funds were not mere lapses but serious crimes. According to the report, Javed Iqbal Memon emerged as the central figure, while Samira Sattar, Arshad Sattar, Mah Noor, and several university sports directors also contributed through negligence and incompetence.
Among the worst examples were the selection of female archery players without trials, the disqualification of the 4x400m relay team due to wrong order, and players going missing during the event. These incidents read like a movie script, but unfortunately, they were real — and Pakistan’s name was dragged through the mud on the international stage.
The Higher Education Commission’s role is also highly questionable. Instead of cooperating with the inquiry, it set up its own “internal committee” and even stopped its officials from appearing before the PSB fact-finding panel. The pressing question is: under whose pressure was this done? Was the real purpose to shield the actual culprits? Do the money trails of these billions in funds really connect to the highest levels of authority? These are questions the report touched upon but left partially answered — further independent investigation is unavoidable.
It must be acknowledged, however, that the committee showed remarkable courage under pressure. Members like Noorish Sabah, Nasrullah Rana, and Saif-ur-Rehman displayed rare fearlessness by documenting realities that powerful circles wanted to hide. Their work is proof that when intentions are honest, truth can prevail. But it is equally true that the report does not yet reveal the entire picture — especially regarding the network behind the missing players and the exact flow of funds.
Now comes the real test: will the Prime Minister’s Office and relevant institutions act upon this report, or will this file — like so many others before it — end up buried in a cupboard? If figures like Javed Memon, Samira Sattar, and their accomplices are not held accountable, the corruption mafia will grow stronger, and Pakistan will face even greater humiliation at future international events.
This scandal is not just about sports; it is a test of Pakistan’s institutions, their credibility, and their commitment to transparency. If accountability fails yet again, future generations will inevitably ask: who was protected at the expense of Pakistan’s young athletes?
Shahid Ulhaq ; Sports Philanthropist | Former National Basketball Player | Fitness Coach of National Teams | Sports Writer & Vlogger ; CEO, SPOFIT YouTube Channel | Development Director, Pakistan Powerlifting Federation 📩 Contact: spofit@gmail.com
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