In an interaction with Pakistan’s mainstream boxers it became clear that they are not happy with the current situation of the country’s boxing. They want international training tours which they say is the only way for them to develop. They say doing work-out for two months with tough boxers abroad is better than training for the whole year with ordinary boxers in Pakistan.

I found a sense of deprivation in Pakistan’s top lot whom I have been following for many years. Boxing governance is the issue. It’s a demanding sport. Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF), being led by Khalid Mehmood, must be aware of this fact. Having experience of running Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) and being the Pakistan Olympic Association’s (POA) Secretary General, Khalid should have no problem in effectively running PBF. He has strong links both in Pakistan and abroad. He should have made an impact as PBF chief during the last two years.

But we did not see that. Like officials of other federations the PBF should not always seek state funding but it should generate its own revenues and work for the development of boxing in the country. Sindh and Balochistan have been major nurseries of boxing but they are being constantly ignored. As PBF chief Khalid will have to keep constant connection with these two provinces which have produced several Olympians.

How was former AIBA and PBF chief Professor Anwar Chowdhry different from others? He would spend millions on Pakistani boxers from his own pocket by sending them abroad for training without waiting for the grant to be released to the PBF by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB). If you wait for the Board’s assistance you will not be able to develop your game. I urge Khalid to rise and work tirelessly for the development of boxing.

The country’s leading boxers may switch over to professional boxing if no immediate steps are taken for the development of amateur boxing in Pakistan.

Zaigham Maseel, one of the most capable coaches, had to take up a coaching job with a school in Bahrain because of dearth of opportunities in Pakistan. Olympians Asghar Ali Shah, Haider Ali, Hussain Shah, Rasheed Baloch, Usmanullah and Sohail Baloch are also working abroad because of no boxing-related jobs in Pakistan. But these Olympians can still help Pakistan if they are approached.

Last year Olympian Mehrullah told me in an interview that he wanted to contribute to the country’s boxing as a coach but nobody in the PBF took interest in talking to him. Pakistan’s coaching revolves around AIBA three-star coaches Ali Bux and Arshad Hussain only. There is a need to involve those capable coaches in the build-up of our boxers who are permanently involved in club coaching.

Merit is trampled in the selection of boxers. Right from the grassroots level up to the national level I have seen favouritism. I have seen even national coaches supporting some particular boxers.

Unless merit is followed this sport will not improve.

The future of boxing as an Olympic sport is yet to be known. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has serious reservations over the recent election of Uzbek businessman Gafur Rakhimov as AIBA chief due to his alleged involvement in organised crime. But irrespective of the outcome of that matter, the PBF should plan not only for the South Asian Games but also for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Gafur beat former Olympian Serik Konaknayev of Kazakhstan 86-48 in the 134 cast valid ballots. Gafur has also served as Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) chief and is regarded as a dynamic official. Sources close to him told me that Gafur can run AIBA effectively as he is extremely rich and influential. Some sources who have met Gafur say that he had good relations with Professor Chowdhry. Some consider Gafur’s team as Anwar Chowdhry’s B team.

But this notion contradicts the step taken by AIBA a few months ago. It removed the name of Anwar Chowdhry from the list of AIBA’s presidents. The step was taken by the world body when Gafur was serving as interim chief of the world body. Chowdhry’s name was restored when I wrote a story on the issue in ‘The News’.

Sources say that Gafur’s relations with the current chairman of PBF Doda Khan Bhutto soared in 2014 when Doda was PBF chief.  They say their relations had soared not because of any boxing-related issue but due to some business transaction. Doda was reportedly arrested in Dubai that year, when he and secretary Iqbal Hussain were going to South Korea to attend AIBA Congress.

In 2004, Gafur visited Karachi during the Athens Olympics qualifiers. The chief of Velo company Salman Islam and Green Hill chief Jehangir Riaz are close to Gafur and the two can convince Gafur to support Pakistan’s boxing which is in a critical state.

There is not a single referee/judge from Pakistan on AIBA list. There is no Pakistani in any commission of the Asian Boxing Confederation.

After 2008, Doda became ASBC youth commission chairman and Dr Waqar of Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) became a member of the continental boxing governing body’s medical commission.

Pakistan last featured in the 2004 Athens Olympics in boxing. Only Mohammad Waseem, who is now a professional boxer, was able to earn a silver medal in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and bronze in the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Waseem and England-based Haroon Khan also captured bronze medals in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. In the last couple of years under the current PBF regime the performance of the national pugilists has been dismal.