Over the years, Pakistan has produced numerous exceptional athletes, many of whom have gone on to represent their country in various sports. These are some of the greatest Pakistani athletes of all time, thus if you’re a Pakistani who wants to compete professionally in sports, these are the guys you should look up to. Sports in Pakistan are considerably different from sports in other areas of the world. Sports are viewed differently in Pakistan. As a result, Pakistan has produced great athletes who have gained a reputation not only in Asia but throughout the world. Let us look at the most popular sportsmen in Pakistan throughout the history of Pakistani sports.
- Habib Hasan (Poker)
Hasan Habib (born April 19, 1962, in Karachi, Pakistan) is a professional poker player from Pakistan. Habib was the Pakistan 14-and-under National Tennis Champion during his early years in Pakistan. Habib immigrated to the United States at the age of 18 to study business at the University of Redlands. He also used to own a nationwide video store business. He started playing casino poker in 1985 and cashed in his first poker tournament in 1993. Hasan Habib is without a doubt one of the most successful poker players in history. Habib has been one of the most successful players in the last 15 years, winning the Stud Hi-Lo Event at the 2004 World Series of Poker.
- Khan, Jansher (Squash)
Jansher Khan (born 15 June 1969 in Peshawar, Pakistan) is a former Pakistani World No. 1 professional squash player. Jansher is of Pashtun origin and hails from NuwaiKelai in Peshawar.
- Hassan Sardar (Hockey)
International hockey player; given that Hassan Sardar is one of Pakistan’s top center-forwards, he helped lead the Pakistan Field Hockey team to gold medals in both the 1982 World Cup and the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. After retiring from hockey, he worked as a selector for Pakistan.
- Shoaib Akhtar (Cricket)
Shoaib Akhtar is a Pakistan cricket legend. Known as “Pindi Express,” “Tiger,” and “The Terrorist of Cricket,” he is largely considered the world’s most feared and fastest bowler in international cricket history. In 1999, Akhtar took eight wickets in an Asian Test Championship match against India in Calcutta. In this match, he clean-bowled Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar on consecutive deliveries. It was the first ball he ever bowled to Sachin Tendulkar, and it was also the first “Golden Duck” for the little master.
- Shahid Afridi (Cricket).
Afridi is a well-known Pakistani cricketer who needs no introduction to the world of cricket; he is known as “Boom Boom” among fans and “Lala” among his team colleagues around the world. Because of his aggressive batting approach, he is the most popular. He owns numerous international records, including the quickest 100 in an ODI (37 balls), the most sixes in an ODI, the most runs scored in an ODI (32), and the longest six in cricket history.
Bottom line:
Pakistanis embraced sports such as cricket, field hockey, squash, snooker, and many others. The stars of these sports are among the most well-known athletes in the country.
