India recently defeated Pakistan in two consecutive encounters in the Rival Nations Basketball Tournament held in Dubai. Based on that result, here are five reasons why Pakistan won’t catch up to India in basketball any time soon.
5. The hegemony of cricket in Pakistan
While cricket is big in both India and Pakistan, it is certainly bigger in the latter country to the extent that it has stunted the growth of other sports in Pakistan. The hegemony of cricket in Pakistan has certainly hindered the growth and development of other sports in the country and basketball is only one of the victims. If Pakistan is serious about competing with India on the basketball court, they will have to find a way to break the hegemony of cricket in the country.
4. Lack of World-Class Coaches and Coaching Facilities
Pakistan’s defeat to India in the Rival Nations encounter is a verification that the Men in Green lack world-class coaches and coaching facilities back home. Pakistan needs to find coaches who are well-equipped with the latest techniques, strategies, and tactics so that they can prepare teams for the rigours of international competition.
3. Lack of Fitness
Teams from Pakistan are not known to be the epitome of fitness in any sport. But when it comes to a physically demanding sport like basketball, a lack of fitness can be a team’s undoing. This was certainly the case against India in the Rival Nations encounter and it must be addressed as soon as possible if Pakistan wants to remain competitive at the international level.
2. Lack of a competitive domestic league
One of the biggest reasons why India is emerging as a powerhouse in basketball is the emergence of numerous domestic private leagues in the country. Pakistan, on the other hand, has a domestic league but it does not manage to live up to the standards of its Indian counterpart.
1. Lack of investment in top-quality players
One of the things that was plain to see in the Indo-Pak encounter was the sheer difference in quality between the Indian and Pakistan players. India had the better quality players and eventually that made all the difference. Also, the investment of private leagues in grassroots Basketball to scout top talents has worked the magic trick.
