Islamabad, Mar 10 2025: Muhammad Riaz, a former standout player for football team during the 2018 Asian Games, has found himself in a grim reality—selling jalebis on the streets of Hangu.
This drastic shift in his life underscores the stark realities faced by many athletes in Pakistan, where the promised revival of sports remains unmet.
Riaz had hoped that the government’s promises, including the prime minister’s directives to rejuvenate departmental sports, would lead to better prospects.
However, Riaz, who also played for K-Electric, expressed frustration over the lack of progress and the delay in the implementation of these policies.
The 29-year-old footballer, struggling to provide for his family, spoke about the painful choice that led him to leave behind his football career and turn to the streets.
He was particularly vocal about the 2021 ban on departmental sports by the previous PTI government, which he deemed a premature decision that devastated Pakistan’s sports landscape.
Riaz noted that until sports become a priority in society, the support from departments remains essential to athletes’ survival and growth.
Taimoor Kayani, the former advisor to the Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC), also weighed in on Riaz’s plight.
He condemned the lack of action and called for an immediate overhaul to protect the future of Pakistan’s athletes, urging the government to remove officials who have failed to implement critical sports policies.
