2025 proved to be a roller-coaster 12 months for Pakistan’s sports activities, that includes instances of celebration alongside disappointing moments.
In cricket, Pakistan recorded a number of notable achievements in choose codecs, however inconsistent performances in main tournaments prevented sustained success on the highest degree.
Hockey supplied a uncommon constructive headline as Pakistan certified for the Professional Hockey League after a number of years, following New Zealand’s resolution to withdraw from the competitors.
In athletics, javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem failed to fulfill expectations on the World Athletics Championships however made a comeback by profitable gold medals on the Islamic Solidarity Video games and the Nationwide Video games.
Pakistan’s native expertise additionally made its mark in sports activities similar to squash, volleyball and snooker, securing notable victories at regional and worldwide ranges.
Cricket
Let’s begin with the cricket. Pakistan opened the 12 months by internet hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the nation’s first ICC match on residence grounds for the reason that 1996 World Cup.
The hosts’ marketing campaign, nevertheless, was short-lived, as Inexperienced Shirts have been knocked out of the occasion after dropping their opening two matches.Â
A view exhibits the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 throughout a ceremony at Diwan-e-Aam, Lahore Fort on February 16, 2025. — —X/@TheRealPCBHandshake controversy
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated in Could when the nuclear-armed neighbours engaged in a short army conflict. The strained relations carried over to the Asia Cup T20I match within the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the place India received all three matches towards Pakistan, together with the ultimate.
India’s Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s Salman Agha through the coin toss at Asia Cup match on September 14, 2025. — Reuters
In the course of the match, Indian gamers refused to just accept the winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi and declined to shake arms with their Pakistani counterparts on the toss and after matches. A number of gamers from either side have been seen making provocative gestures, prompting the Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) to think about sanctions for breaches of conduct.
Basic view as Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi stands on the rostrum with Emirates Cricket Board Vice Chairman Khalid Al Zarooni earlier than the trophy displays. — Reuters
Whereas the lads’s worldwide staff struggled to fulfill expectations, the nation discovered causes for optimism in its youth and rising sides, because the Beneath-19 and rising junior groups clinched Asia Cup titles.
The Pakistan Shaheens lifted the Males’s Asia Cup Rising Stars title in Doha, overcoming Bangladesh A in an exhilarating closing that went right down to a Tremendous Over, marking Pakistan’s document third triumph within the match.
Pakistan Shaheens staff and administration have a good time after profitable the ACC Males’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 by defeating Bangladesh ‘A’ within the closing on the West Finish Park Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on November 23, 2025. – ACC
Success was not restricted to the Rising Stars title. Within the twenty first version of the Hong Kong Sixes, Pakistan defeated Kuwait by 43 runs on the Mission Highway Floor in Mong Kok.
Pakistan staff celebrates after defeating Kuwait to win the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 closing on the Mission Highway Floor in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, on November 9, 2025. – PCB
The much-anticipated glory of the 12 months got here within the U19 Asia Cup, the place Pakistan produced a convincing 191-run victory over arch-rivals India within the closing on the ICC Academy Floor. Opener Sameer Minhas starred with a record-breaking 172 — the best particular person rating in a U19 Asia Cup closing.
Pakistan gamers have a good time with the trophy after profitable the ACC Males’s U19 Asia Cup 2025 by defeating India within the closing on the ICC Academy in Dubai on December 21, 2025. — PCBHockey
Hockey in Pakistan has seen a pointy decline over the previous few many years, largely resulting from administrative challenges, underinvestment, and insufficient infrastructure. Nonetheless, renewed efforts are underway to revive the nationwide sport, with elevated authorities backing, youth growth initiatives, and better worldwide engagement aimed toward returning Pakistan to its former glory.
This 12 months, Pakistan’s hockey revival gained momentum on the Nationwide Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, the place the staff reached the ultimate of the FIH Nations Hockey Cup for the primary time in 11 years, since their look within the 2014 Champions Trophy closing in Bhubaneswar. The staff carried out admirably on the Nations Cup, in the end clinching the silver medal.
Pakistan nationwide staff poses for a photograph after the FIH Hockey Males’s Nations Cup closing on June 21, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur.— @FIH_Hockey/X)
The nationwide staff additionally featured within the Professional Hockey League after a number of years, following New Zealand’s resolution to withdraw from the competitors.Â
Athletics: Arshad’s golds
Pakistan’s largest athletics identify continued to show abroad appearances into podium finishes, regardless of some setbacks.
Olympic gold medal winner Arshad Nadeem received javelin gold on the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, with a throw of 86.40m.Â
Arshad Nadeem poses together with his gold medal on the Islamic Solidarity Video games. — Instagram/@arshadnadeem29
Later, he added one other abroad win on the Islamic Solidarity Video games in Riyadh, the place he took javelin gold with an 83.05m throw.
In a 12 months the place Pakistan’s worldwide sporting identification leaned closely on people, Arshad stored Pakistan seen at high-profile meets.
Cue sports activities
Snooker is one thing that Pakistan can all the time depend on to carry residence outcomes. It once more supplied Pakistan with essentially the most returns, delivering outcomes throughout codecs and age teams.
In Muscat, Oman, Muhammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal received the IBSF World Cup of Group Snooker 2025, beating Hong Kong (China-2) 3–2 in a comeback closing to safe the staff crown.Â
Winners and officers pose for a photograph after the conclusion of the Oman World Cup of Males and Group Snooker 2025. — Instagram/@ibsf.media
Bahrain has two feel-good moments: the established champion including one other main trophy, and the subsequent technology saying itself.Â
Within the IBSF World Masters closing, Asif edged India’s Brijesh Damani 4–3 to win the title. And within the under-17 bracket, Mohammad Hasnain Akhtar claimed the IBSF World Beneath-17 Snooker Championship, defeating Riley Powell of Wales 4–0 within the closing.
Muhammad Asif provides a submit match interview following his trimph within the IBSF World Masters Snooker Championship 2025 closing. — Instagram/@ibsf.media
Put collectively, it was a uncommon full-spectrum 12 months: a world staff title, a significant particular person crown, and a junior world champion.
Squash
Pakistan’s squash story in 2025 was about outcomes logged on the street.
In London, Ontario, Noor Zaman received the Nash Cup 2025, beating Egypt’s Moustafa Elsirty 3–0. The match was a marathon first recreation (19–17) earlier than Zaman closed it out in straight video games.
Noor Zaman with trophy after profitable Nash Cup closing. — Instagram/@noorzmn
In the USA, Muhammad Ashab Irfan captured the St Louis Open 2025 in Missouri, beating England’s Charlie Lee 3–0 within the closing (11–7, 11–2, 11–7). It was the form of tour win that issues in accumulation: not one massive second, however repeated proof that Pakistani gamers can journey and take titles.
Mountaineering: historical past made
Away from typical sport, Pakistan additionally recorded a landmark achievement in high-altitude climbing.
Mountaineer Sirbaz Khan shows Pakistan’s flag after efficiently summiting Mount Kangchenjunga in Nepal with out supplemental oxygen. — Instagram/@sirbazkhan_mission14
By summiting Kangchenjunga, Sirbaz Khan grew to become the primary Pakistani to finish all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres with out supplemental oxygen, a global-category milestone that locations him amongst a really small group worldwide.
