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‘Made-in-Sialkot’ ball puts Pakistan in the World Cup

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2 years ago

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SIALKOT: Even though it is a cricket-mad nation, Pakistan is playing a big part in the soccer World Cup by making the balls used on the training fields in Qatar and the replicas sold to fans worldwide.

Forward Sports, a multinational sports equipment company in the northeastern city of Sialkot, has been working with Adidas AG for almost 20 years. It is one of two manufacturers of Adidas’ Al Rihla, the official World Cup ball.

Forward Sports Director Hassan Masood Khawaja said his company had made 5.5 million Al Rihla balls, including 60,000 high-quality replicas of the balls used in matches, only without the real-time technology helping referees with offside and line calls.

They are used by the teams as they train in Qatar, and sold as a premium product to football enthusiasts across the globe, with the rest sold as lower-priced leisure and souvenir balls. The match balls are made in China. Adidas declined to identify the manufacturer.

For the company, the contract is a source of pride.

“More than business, it is a matter of prestige and honour for us to make the World Cup ball,” Khawaja said.

“How do we do it? It’s the skill of the people … and our love for the sport,” he said.

Hassan Masood Khawaja director of Forward Sports, the official manufacturer of sports goods for Adidas, speaks with Reuters at his factory in Sialkot, Pakistan November 30, 2022. — Reuters
Hassan Masood Khawaja director of Forward Sports, the official manufacturer of sports goods for Adidas, speaks with Reuters at his factory in Sialkot, Pakistan November 30, 2022. — Reuters

While soccer is popular among fans, the national side is ranked 194 out of 211 countries by FIFA. Cricket reigns supreme.

Sialkot has a rich history of making soccer balls and other sporting equipment dating back to colonial times.

Workers check the finish of soccer balls before packing them in the soccer ball factory in Sialkot, Pakistan November 30, 2022. — Reuters
Workers check the finish of soccer balls before packing them in the soccer ball factory in Sialkot, Pakistan November 30, 2022. — Reuters

Pakistan remains one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of soccer balls, along with China and India. The local chamber of commerce said more than 43 million balls valued at $191 million were made in Sialkot in the 2021/22 financial year.

About 8% of Sialkot’s population of around 1 million people work in the industry, but many say they have little time to actually see their product in action.

A worker moves a lot of finished balls out of the production area inside the soccer ball factory, in Sialkot, Pakistan November 30, 2022. — Reuters
A worker moves a lot of finished balls out of the production area inside the soccer ball factory, in Sialkot, Pakistan November 30, 2022. — Reuters

“We work all day,” said Forward Sports quality control inspector Amna, when asked if she watched soccer. “At night, when we go home, we need to rest.”

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Pakistan has finalized its 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy squad.

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3 days ago

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The team will play in the forthcoming Tri-Nation Series on behalf of Pakistan as well. Pakistan’s Champions Trophy opener against New Zealand is scheduled on February 19 in Karachi. The final announcement is anticipated within a few days after the squad list was submitted to Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the PCB, for approval.

Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Khushdil Shah, Kamran Ghulam, Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Maqeem, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah are players on the final squad. Additionally, Tayyab Tahir, Abbas Afridi, and Mohammad Hasnain might be added.

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There is little chance that Shan Masood will make the Champions Trophy team, but Imam-ul-Haq has a good chance.

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The BCCI has confirmed that Pakistan’s name will be on India’s jersey during the Champions Trophy.

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4 days ago

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On Wednesday, the BCCI confirmed that Pakistan’s name would be put on India’s shirt.

According to Indian media, India’s shirt would incorporate the Champions Trophy emblem, which has been approved by the ICC. The Indian team will adhere to the International Cricket Council’s mega-event criteria.

The BCCI has underlined that the Indian squad will respect the ICC’s norms.

It is worth noting that the Champions Trophy begins on February 19.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) urged the ICC to severely enforce the BCCI’s policies.

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The Indian team must have the “Pakistan” logo on their uniforms, the ICC warns the BCCI.

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4 days ago

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a warning from the International Cricket Council about its unwillingness to include the logo of Pakistan on the trophy kits of its winning team.

The International Cricket Council has given a strong message to the Indian board on this, according to Indian NDTV.

As part of its host nation policy, the Indian board claimed that it was not interested in having Pakistan’s name appear on their team uniform. However, the ICC rejected this claim.

In reality, the ICC has urged the Indian board to clarify that, since the country was the tournament’s original host, the Indian squad must have “Pakistan” printed on their uniform.

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