Pakistan has a great range of sports, but cricket seems to be the most popular, followed by hockey and squash. Cricket is played in most districts of Pakistan, and a conventional Pakistani is more likely to have played it at one time of their life.

Polo player in PakistanPolo player in Pakistan

Cricket is so popular that Pakistan has become internationally competitive, taking home various honors like winning the Cricket World Cup (1992) and the ICC World Twenty20 (2009), as well as being runner-ups in the 1999 Cricket World Cup and 2007 ICC World Twenty20. Some of the best cricketers in the world like Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Ramiz Raja and many more are from Pakistan.

"Pakistan's cricketing legacy is remarkable - producing some of the greatest fast bowlers in history including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, and winning major ICC tournaments across formats. The 1992 World Cup victory remains one of cricket's greatest underdog stories."
— Robert Wood, founder of Topend Sports

Pakistan has a lot of traditional sports, but Kabaddi is by far the most popular. It is a form of contact sport that came from South India and is actually the national sport of other countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. Other Pakistani who have made a mark on the international stage include Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan. They both played squash.

Jansher Khan won the World Open eight times and the British Open six times. He was ranked number 1 in the world for six years. Jahangir Khan is easily the greatest professional squash player of all time, with a record of having a 555-game winning streak. And by the way, Jansher and Jahangir are related.

"The dominance of Pakistani squash players in the 1980s and 1990s was extraordinary. Jahangir Khan's 555-match winning streak may never be equalled in any racquet sport, and the rivalry between Jansher and Jahangir elevated the sport globally."
— Robert J. Wood's research at Topend Sports

Pakistan has been in the Olympic Games since the 1948 London Games, except when it participated in the 1980 boycott of the Moscow Games. All in all, they have taken home 11 Olympic medals, 8 of which are from field hockey (3 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze). The other medals came from wrestling (bronze) and boxing (bronze). Pakistan also won gold in the Men's javelin throw athletics at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"Pakistan's field hockey tradition represents one of the great dynasties in Olympic sports. Winning three gold medals and a total of eight Olympic medals in hockey demonstrates a sustained excellence that few nations have achieved in any team sport."
— According to sports science expert Robert Wood, who has analyzed sports performance data for over 25 years

Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Pakistan. Cricket is the most popular sport, with Field Hockey the national sport.

Cricket Dominance

Pakistan won the 1992 Cricket World Cup under Imran Khan's captaincy and the 2009 T20 World Cup, cementing their place among cricket's elite nations.

View Pakistan Cricket World Cup History →

Traditional or Regional Sports

  • Kabaddi — a "raider" enters the opposite team's half to tag opponents without taking a breath.
  • Beeni Wrestling — It is also called Asian arm wrestling, which involves two competitors attempting to break free from their competitor's hold.

Pakistani Sporting Success

Sport Achievement Year(s)
Cricket Cricket World Cup Winner 1992
Cricket ICC World Twenty20 Winner 2009
Field Hockey Olympic Gold Medals 3 total
Field Hockey Hockey Champions Trophy 1978, 1980, 1994
Athletics Olympic Gold - Men's Javelin 2024
Squash World Team Squash Championships 1977, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1993

Olympic Hockey Legacy

Pakistan has won 8 Olympic medals in field hockey including 3 gold medals, making it one of the most successful hockey nations in Olympic history.

View Pakistan Olympic History →

Great Athletes from Pakistan

  • Wasim Akram (cricket)
  • Javed Miandad (cricket)
  • Imran Khan (cricket)
  • Carla Khan (squash)
  • Jahangir Khan (squash)
  • Jansher Khan (squash)
  • Arshad Khan (hockey)

Squash Legends

Jahangir Khan holds the record for the longest winning streak in professional squash with 555 consecutive victories over nearly six years.

Learn More About Squash →

Pakistan Sports Trivia

  • Pakistan first competed at the Olympic Games in 1948

Pakistan at Major Events

Past Sporting Events Hosted in Pakistan

Upcoming Sporting Events in Pakistan

Annual Sporting Events Held in Pakistan

  • The Pakistan Premier League - This is the annual premier cricket tournament held in Pakistan.
  • The National Hockey Championship (Pakistan) - This is an annual hockey tournament held in Pakistan.
  • The National Football Championship (Pakistan) - This is the major annual football event held in Pakistan that brings the best teams in the country together.

Sporting Facilities in Pakistan

  • The National Stadium - a cricket stadium in Karachi
  • National Cricket Academy (NCA)

Is there something missing? If you know of something that should be listed here, please let us know.