Sports journalism holds the unique responsibility of capturing the drama, dedication, technicalities, and triumphs of athletes and the sports they play. It brings nations together in support of their athletes, ignites discourse, and inspires future generations of sportspeople.
However, in Pakistan, a country with an extremely passionate sports audience, sports journalism faces a unique and vast set of challenges. In this article, we will break down some of these hurdles, examining the elements that prevent a nuanced, holistic, and critical portrayal of the nation’s sporting landscape.
Beyond the Wicket
While cricket reigns supreme over media channels, its dominance tends to overshadow and undermine the growth of other sports. This lack of balanced coverage creates a trickle-down effect, discouraging public interest and investment in other athletic pursuits. Sports where Pakistan has a rich history, such as hockey—with a record four World Cup wins (in 1971, 1978, 1982, and 1994)—are starved for coverage.
Newer sports initiatives also tend to be ignored. For instance, basketball has gained interest among the youth in major cities like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. However, initiatives such as the “League of Basketball Karachi” that aim to bring traction and resources to these sports are widely ignored by both the media and the public.
Drama Over Depth
We have all experienced the sudden whiplash from constant controversies surrounding player selection or off-field issues. Remember the turmoil and drama on social media surrounding the recent Pakistan national team selection for the T20 World Cup 2024.
While stories like these have their place, deep dives into unorthodox training strategies or in-depth tactical breakdowns of winning strategies would be far more enriching for audiences. This dramatization can also be damaging to players. Imagine a young swimmer training day in and day out to perfect her craft, only to turn on the TV and see endless debates on an exaggerated story about a player’s disagreement with the coach.
This infatuation with dramatization even seeps into the commentary box. Tight matches often see commentators dissecting players’ every facial expression instead of discussing the game itself. It transforms skillful games, characterized by technical brilliance, into telenovelas. Pakistani sports journalism has the potential to be a powerful storyteller, but sensationalism risks reducing it to just another generator of daily dramatized headlines.
Cash-Strapped Commentary
Financial constraints add another layer to the challenge, acting like a nagging injury hindering progress. Investigative journalism is expensive, and so is in-depth coverage as a whole. You need manpower, travel, access to data, and more. When budget constraints exist, important facets of sports journalism are sidelined.
Sports media houses with limited resources may not want to send professional investigative journalists to uncover bureaucratic hurdles preventing the development of proper training facilities as the story may not be profitable. This lack of financing sometimes manifests in repetitive narratives and a lack of critical analysis. Post-match interviews devolve into sensationalized, emotional, and predictable questionnaires. Financial constraints clip the wings of Pakistani sports journalism, preventing it from soaring to its full potential.
Expertise Stretched Thin
As opposed to cricket, other sports have far fewer dedicated experts, channels, and journalists. This leads to shallow reporting lacking depth. For example, analyses of hockey often wind up caught in a nostalgic loop, reminiscing past glories rather than delving into present shortcomings in player development or infrastructure.
This lack of expertise and specialists for individual sports even leads to the occasional square peg in a round-hole situation—imagine a seasoned political commentator being thrown into the commentary box for a crucial kabaddi match. Smaller sports get lost, and discussions on them are often only a few statements long, misplaced and thrown around during debates about something completely different.
To ensure the growth and development of all sports in Pakistan, it is crucial for sports journalism to overcome these challenges and strive for a more balanced and insightful approach. Only then can it truly capture the essence of sports and inspire the nation.
