Pakistan Sports Board Archives

Pakistan Sports Board bans participation of all sports federations in India events

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Saturday formally barred all national sports federations from participating in events scheduled to take place in India, citing security concerns amid escalating political tensions.

In an official notification issued to the federations, the PSB clarified that no sports body will be allowed to commit to any competition in India without prior consultation and written approval from the board.

“Keeping in view the prevailing security concerns, the PSB Board in its 34th meeting held on 23rd July 2025 has decided that no National Sports Federation (NSF) shall commit to participate in any sporting event in India without prior consultation with Pakistan Sports Board,” the notification stated.

The board further instructed all NSFs to obtain clearance before even considering any event across the border.

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The move comes on the heels of a government decision earlier this month to pull the national men’s hockey team out of the upcoming Men’s Hockey Asia Cup in India

The tournament is scheduled to be held in Rajgir from August 27 to September 7, but Pakistan withdrew, citing serious security threats and rising diplomatic strain.

Sources within the setup maintain that Pakistan has consistently advocated for keeping politics separate from sport.

However, they allege that India has politicized the sporting space and created a hostile environment for visiting athletes, particularly those from Pakistan.

READ: ACC president Mohsin Naqvi reveals dates for Asia Cup 2025

Hockey team barred from participating in Azlan Shah Cup

LAHORE: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) prohibited the national hockey team from participating in Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey as the board refused to grant the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the event.

According to the details, the federal government had established a standing committee under the presidency of Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif to look after the matters of national sports in the country.

The formation of the committee and until its decision regarding the hockey barred the PSB from issuing any NOC to a player or a team.

Consequently, the SPB refused to issue an NOC to the PHF for the national team’s participation in the upcoming Azlan Shah Hockey tournament.

It is pertinent to mention that the PHF received a formal invitation for this year’s event in June.

The national Hockey team, who last participated in the event back in 2013, has clinched the championship thrice in the past.

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PSB likely to impose penalties on federations over missing athletes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Sports Board took notice of the growing number of missing national athletes from international competitions and decided to take action against the relevant federation including imposing fines for the cases.

According to the sources, PSB has been considering the imposition of up to two million PKR penalty to the concerned federation for each missing athlete.

Additionally, a proposal to make a no-objection certificate (NOC) mandatory for athletes before participating in international events is also under consideration by the Sports Board.

Earlier on Wednesday, two Pakistani boxers reportedly went missing in United Kindom after participating in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games.

Salman Baloch and Nazeerullah disappeared before the Pakistani boxing team was set to depart for the country.

Meanwhile, four-times national swimming champion Faizan Akbar went missing last month from Hungary during World Swimming Championship 2022.

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PSB announces cash awards for Pakistani medalists in CWG 2022

ISLAMABAD: Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Colonel (retd) Mohammad Asif Zaman announced cash prizes for weightlifter Muhammad Nooh Dastgir Butt, who won gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, and bronze-medalist judoka Shah Hussain, here on Thursday.

Zaman announced that the Rs5,000,000 cash award would be given to the gold-medalist Nooh while Shah would receive Rs1,000,000 for the remarkable feat by the two athletes in the event.

“You’ve made the nation proud with your great achievement,” DG Sports Board congratulated Nooh over the phone and said that the medal-winning athletes would be given a warm reception on their return to Pakistan.

Weightlifter Nooh created history as he set the new Commonwealth Games record by lifting 405kgs and secured the first gold for Pakistan in the ongoing global event.

Whereas, judo player Hussain outclassed his South African opponent to clinch a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games 2022.

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PSB reappoints Sajjad Khokhar as PHF President in a fresh ad-hoc setup

LAHORE: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) reinstated Brig (Retd) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar as President of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) in the newly-appointed ad-hoc committee after sacking the previous setup earlier this month.

According to the notification issued by the PSB, a four-member ad-hoc committee has been appointed with the strict mandate to hold elections within 30 days besides running everyday affairs of the federation.

Olympians Nasir Ali, Rehan Butt and coach Arshad Mehmood have been named as the other three members of the committee while Khokhar will continue to hold the top position in a temporary setup.

Earlier, PSB de-notified PHF President Khokhar, secretary Asif Bajwa, and treasurer Muhammad Akhlaq for failing to hold elections upon completion of their constitutional term on May 14, 2022.

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PSB sidelines badminton team from Commonwealth Games’ contingent

LAHORE: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has reportedly sidelined the national badminton team from the Pakistani contingent for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games 2022.

The President of the Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) Syed Wahaj Ali revealed that the four-member badminton squad, initially part of the contingent, has been removed by the PSB without an explanation.

“PSB failed to provide an explanation for the removal. This is a mistreatment of the players, and the federation lacks the resources to sponsor it,” Wahaj stated.

“Pakistan Badminton Federation will contact Pakistan Olympic Association about the issue,” he added.

Pakistan Olympian Mahoor Shahzad, on the other hand, also opined on the incident and termed it unfair.

“It’s quite unfair on the part of PSB to isolate the only sport at the very last moment when everything was finalized including visas and a training camp. Such gestures by PSB will have an adverse effect on growth and development of Pakistan badminton,” Mahoor wrote on her Instagram.

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It is pertinent to mention here that the four-member badminton team was comprised of Mahoor, Ghazala Siddique, Murad Ali, and Irfan Saeed.

READ: PSB to appoint ad-hoc committee after sacking PHF top office-bearers

PSB to appoint ad-hoc committee after sacking PHF top office-bearers

LAHORE: Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has decided to run the Pakistan Hockey Federation through an ad-hoc setup after it sacked president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, secretary Asif Bajwa, and treasurer Muhammad Akhlaq from their positions.

According to details, PSB will appoint a three-member ad-hoc committee comprising of a member from the board, an official from the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, and a technocrat.

The committee will be empowered to run the affairs of PHF till the appointment of top office-bearers through elections under the National Sports Policy.

Earlier, PSB de-notified the PHF officials on Thursday for failing to hold elections upon completion of their constitutional term on May 14, 2022.

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PSB sacks PHF President Khokhar, Secretary Asif from their positions

LAHORE: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has removed Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, secretary Asif Bajwa, and treasurer Muhammad Akhlaq from their positions.

The Director National Federation of PSB Syed Wahid issued the notification with the approval of DG Col (retd) Asif Zaman regarding the sacking of PHF officials.

According to the details, the PHF officials had completed their constitutional term on May 14, 2022, but could not hold elections, which led to PSB dismissing them.

It is important to note that PHF elections were held on May 15, 2018, which took place more than four years ago. President Khokhar, Secretary Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, and Treasurer Akhlaq were elected for four years in those elections.

In contrast, Asif Bajwa was proposed as the PHF secretary following Shahbaz Senior’s resignation in 2019.

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Water seeps through PSB coaching centre’s roof after heavy rainfall

LAHORE: The dripping roof at the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB)’s coaching centre, has halted the preparations of the National Wrestlers for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

The PSB coaching centre was hosting the national wrestlers’ training camp as they prepare for the Commonwealth Games, but the leaky roof has hampered their efforts.

The national wrestlers bemoaned missing the chance to train in pleasant weather after having done so while training in the sweltering heat.

“We have been training in the scorching heat for the last one month. There is no air conditioning facility in the hall, so we had to train in the hot conditions. As we were thinking to train in better weather today but unfortunately, more problems came up,” participating wrestlers lamented.

It is pertinent to mention here that the forthcoming Commonwealth Games will take place from July 28 to August 8.

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IPC Minister Ehsan visits Sports Board, reviews various projects

ISLAMABAD: The Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Ehsan ur Rehman Mazari visited the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) to review projects, here on Tuesday.

On his first visit to the PSB, the newly-elected IPC Minister reviewed the development work going on various projects.

The Minister also paid a visit to Roshan Khan Squash Complex, Player and Staff Cafeteria, while also monitoring the construction of Hamidi Hall.

The Director-General of PSB Colonel Retired Asif Zaman accompanied IPC Minister Ehsan on his first visit to the sports board and briefed the latter about development schemes.

“While speedy completion of work is a priority at the same time we must ensure all the work is up to the mark,” Minister remarked while engaging with the media in casual interaction.

It is pertinent to mention here that it was the first visit of IPC Minister Ehsan after taking the oath, earlier this month.

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