Former Olympian Zahid Sharif, who won gold for Pakistan on the hockey field, says he has lost his home, his car and his income.
In a recent interview with a private news channel, he described his struggle with illness and debt and appealed to the country’s leaders for help.
Sharif chose to stay in Pakistan at the peak of his career, even though other countries offered him deals. “I played with great sincerity for Pakistan. I received huge offers from other countries, but I had a deep love for my own country,” he told the channel.
He recalled October 2015 as the turning point in his life. “In October 2015, I suffered a heart attack and paralysis. I could not leave my bed for two to three years, and after that, I was totally destroyed,” he added.
Money problems followed his illness. According to Sharif, his restaurant failed because he could not manage it physically, which left him in heavy debt. He now struggles to pay for basic needs, including his monthly medicine, which costs about Rs10,000 to Rs11,000, and the school fees of his young children, who are staying at home.
He revealed that, the Punjab Sports Board used to pay him a monthly stipend of Rs35,000, but officials stopped it. When he visited the Pakistan Sports Board office in October, officials told him the stipend had ended.
Sharif has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Information Minister Azma Bokhari, the Chief of Army Staff and Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. He singled out the Army Chief in his plea.
“I request everyone, especially the Army Chief, to take care of sportsmen. I hope that if my voice reaches them, my debts will be cleared and I will be able to do some small work to earn an honest living for my children,” he appealed.
Sharif won five gold medals and 19 international honours in his career. He joined the national junior setup in 1984, won bronze at the 1985 Junior World Cup in Vancouver, and played for the senior team from 1987 until January 1992. He earned selection for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where Pakistan finished fifth.
He also won silver at the 1988 Champions Trophy and gold at the 1990 Asian Games. His record includes the Asia Cup, BMW Trophy, and the Indira Gandhi and John F. Kennedy tournaments.
