It is a respectable truth that Hockey is the national game of Pakistan. Besides this truth, one can’t hide this fact that Hockey had almost died in the last 20 years. The only thing which has been consistent in sports is Cricket.
Cricket is one of the most popular games in Pakistan. No doubt that the National Field Hockey Team has won several International Championship matches. It has given a good name to the world of sports in Pakistan. Even with hockey as the national game, it is actually cricket that is being played much widely in Pakistan. It keeps the same popularity as the Baseball with Americans.
Our cricket team is considered as one of the best teams in the global cricket, keeping the top rankings in Test as well as One-day International matches. By tradition Pakistani cricket has been filled with talented players. Pakistani cricket do face many issues and controversies but, it is still the most favorite game of the nation.
Since years, competitions between India and Pakistan have always been expressively charged, as the talented teams from both the countries promote their game to new levels. They have become successful in producing a high quality cricket in the world of sports.
According to the history, during the time of the Partition of India in 1947, and the founding of the separate nation state of Pakistan, cricket in the country developed progressively. Besides that, Pakistan was given a Test Match status at a meeting of the Imperial Cricket Conference at Lord's Cricket Ground on 28 July 1952.When the team of West Indies was on its way to carry out a tour of India in the winter of 1948 and at once, few members of the Lahore Gymkhana , thought of inviting the strong team to Pakistan for one-off test match, this gave the birth to the idea of forming the board of control for cricket in Pakistan.(BCCP), so that an official invitation could be extended to the West Indies cricket board. Later it was being named as PCB, Pakistan Cricket Board.
The first ever recognized Cricket game was played in 1600’s in Southern England. Since then, it has become a loved game and has become the national sport of England in the end of the 18th Century. Pakistan has acquired the same love and passion for Cricket .Cricket of Pakistan has really evolved into a well-admired and constantly played game.
Cricket in Pakistan is loved a lot by people of all ages. As an expression of the love which Pakistanis have for Cricket, Pakistan Cricket Board was formed. This board is accountable for all major cricket events in and around Pakistan. As a matter of fact, Pakistan Cricket Board has helped in organizing and co-hosting the
Cricket World Cup in the years 1987 and 1996.
Looking at the achievements and success of the National Cricket Team, they have won the Cricket World Cup championship in the year 1992.On the other hand, Pakistan cricket team was the runner up in 1999 for the same championship game.
Pakistanis are highly sports oriented by nature and this can be seen in the soul of their bodies. Most of the younger population plays cricket for a healthy life style. Cricket has become the real power and way of living for the people of Pakistan.
Observing the love and passion of the people of Pakistan towards cricket, one can surely understand the value of cricket in Pakistan. A child in Pakistan knows more about Cricket than Hockey. Cricket was the favorite game of Quad-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Cricket has gained much popularity in the sports world of Pakistan. When the cricket matches are about to start and when our team is on the ground, the nation gets glued to the radio, television or whatever medium they keep. Looking at the love, craziness and passion towards cricket, No one can deny this truth that Cricket is the de facto national sport of Pakistan.
