HBL PSL 9 supplementary and replacement draft to be held on Monday

Pakistan has decisively re-entered the centre of global football governance, marking a historic transition from years of institutional isolation to renewed international credibility. In a landmark development, Pakistan is now represented at the FIFA Plenary Session and high-level reform deliberations in Doha, Qatar, through its presence on the FIFA Institutional Reforms Committee – a space reserved for countries demonstrating governance maturity, reform commitment and institutional reliability. This development is being widely viewed as a vote of confidence by FIFA in Pakistan’s reform trajectory and as a direct outcome of the Government of Pakistan’s sustained political, diplomatic and institutional engagement under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. For years, Pakistan’s football ecosystem remained trapped in governance instability, administrative paralysis and international disengagement. That chapter has now closed. Under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, the State has adopted a clear and consistent policy of protecting football as an autonomous and merit-based sport, aligned with FIFA’s principles of non-interference, compliance and institutional integrity. The Prime Minister’s direct engagement with AFC President and FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa played a decisive role in restoring international confidence, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to federation autonomy, nationwide football development and reintegration into international football structures. Pakistan’s reform momentum has also been acknowledged at the highest level, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino recognising Pakistan’s renewed seriousness towards governance reform and institutional rebuilding. This recognition has been translated into substantive participation, moving Pakistan from symbolic inclusion to meaningful engagement in global football decision-making. Within this broader reform context, Pakistan’s presence on FIFA’s Institutional Reforms Committee reflects international confidence in the country’s governance capacity and public policy orientation. The engagement focuses on compliance mechanisms, institutional resilience, ethical governance and implementation credibility – areas where Pakistan is now contributing as a stakeholder instead of an observer. This highlights a shift in Pakistan’s global sporting posture: from a recipient of oversight to a contributor to rule-setting and reform discourse. Domestic reform has moved in parallel. Under the leadership of Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsin Gilani, sustained efforts have been made to rebuild federation functionality and international trust. His international diplomacy and focus on governance normalization have reopened doors that were long shut. These efforts have been reinforced by strong political backing, enabling Pakistan to regain standing with FIFA and AFC stakeholders. A defining milestone of this renewed credibility is Pakistan’s women’s football team’s first-ever participation in the FIFA Series – a development that goes far beyond sport. It represents a clear break from legacy practices and signals a genuine shift towards gender-responsive sports governance. For a team ranked outside the global elite, access to structured international competition provides exposure, benchmarks and belief: rewriting narratives around women’s participation in Pakistani sports. This achievement reflects a broader institutional pivot: from symbolic inclusion to genuine empowerment. It sends a powerful message to young girls across Pakistan that football is not an exception but a viable pathway. It also aligns Pakistan with FIFA’s reform priorities, where inclusion, equity and opportunity are no longer optional add-ons but core governance principles. At a strategic level, Pakistan’s football revival is inseparable from its youth vision. With over 60% of the population under the age of 30, football is increasingly being positioned as a tool for youth engagement, social cohesion and national development. For Gen Z and Gen Alpha who is digital-native, globally connected and culturally fluent, sport is more than recreation – it is identity, aspiration and soft power. Pakistan’s re-entry into global football governance recognises this reality. Crucially, this momentum also reflects a wider diplomatic philosophy under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: leveraging non-traditional platforms to rebuild Pakistan’s global standing. Sports diplomacy now complements Pakistan’s broader engagement, reinforcing relationships beyond formal statecraft. In this context, football becomes a neutral yet powerful connector, capable of bridging political divides, opening dialogue and projecting a modern and confident Pakistan. Pakistan’s presence in Doha this week has earned legitimacy. The convergence of political leadership, institutional reform, federation revival and youth-centric vision has repositioned Pakistan as a credible, responsible and forward-looking member of the global football community. Under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, Pakistan has moved from isolation to influence. The message from Doha is unambiguous: Pakistan is back – reformed, respected and ready to shape the future of global football governance through credibility, cooperation and sports-led diplomacy.