Islamabad: Archdiocese bets on cricket for youth outreach

Initiated by Archbishop Joseph Arshad, the diocesan tournament is now in its fifth year, involving 14 teams from the various parishes. A sign of the attention paid to young people in the conviction that sport can also help minorities emerge from the margins of Pakistani society.

Rawalpindi (AsiaNews) - Although sporting talent may be partly God-given, we all know the importance of cultivating it through a well-structured process. Pakistani youth are undeniably talented, physically capable and mentally strong in various sports.

However, efforts to revive and promote sports in the country often falter due to financial constraints, lack of transparency and the absence of a national sports policy that aligns with the aspirations of young people.

It is an issue that particularly affects young Christians, who as a minority often face additional challenges. Despite their talent, the lack of resources often leaves them demotivated. To address this problem, since 2020, the Archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, Bishop Joseph Arshad, has launched the initiative of a diocesan cricket tournament among all the churches of the diocese, which is now in its fifth year.

Young people are a priority of Bishop Arshad's pastoral work: for them, he has established a CSS Academy (the educational institution that prepares for the State examination, ed.), equipping them with the tools to prepare for competitive examinations and excel in their academic and professional lives.

Sport considers the overall growth of the person. In a society where Christians often face social taboos and marginalisation, sport can be a powerful tool to break barriers and change mindsets. By engaging in sports, young Christians not only build resilience and self-confidence, but also challenge prejudices, helping to reshape society's perceptions.

The St. Mary's Academy Girls cricket field was thus alive with excitement for the fifth diocesan cricket tournament that brought together 14 Christian teams, who competed over the course of a month starting in the second week of September. The final saw the Islamabad and Westridge church teams compete, with the former winning the trophy after a tense and exciting match.

During the prize-giving ceremony, Archbishop Arshad blessed both the winning and losing teams, promising to continue to strive for their progress and growth in the fields of sports and education, inspiring hope and unity among young people.

The event attracted wide attention, with prominent cricket board members, local organisations and community leaders attending. Their participation emphasised the importance of these events in fostering relationships between the Church, young people and the local community as a whole.