Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has publicly criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for what he described as an “insult” to Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem. The controversy erupted after the Prime Minister posted a picture of himself presenting a cheque of ₹10 lakh to Nadeem, who made history by winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Kaneria, who took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express his discontent, argued that the gesture fell short of addressing Nadeem’s actual needs. In his tweet, Kaneria did not mince words, urging the Prime Minister to delete the picture. “Mr. Prime Minister, at least offer graceful congratulations. Delete the picture of the million rupees you gave—it does nothing for his real needs. This amount is so small that he can’t even afford air tickets. It’s an insult to both Arshad and the nation, considering his ongoing struggles,” Kaneria wrote.
The former cricketer’s remarks highlight the broader issue of how the achievements of athletes are recognized and rewarded in Pakistan. While the ₹10 lakh check was meant to celebrate Nadeem’s extraordinary accomplishment, Kaneria’s criticism suggests that it was perceived as inadequate, especially given the financial challenges that the Olympian has faced.
Arshad Nadeem’s victory at the Paris Olympics has indeed brought him significant recognition and a wave of financial rewards from various quarters of the Pakistani government. Following his historic win, the Pakistani government, along with other officials and public figures, has announced a series of cash prizes and honors for the javelin champion.
The total amount of financial support announced for Nadeem exceeds PKR 150 million, which is approximately ₹4.5 crore or $538,000. Among the contributions, the Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, has pledged a reward of PKR 100 million. In addition to this substantial amount, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has promised another PKR 2 million, while Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has committed PKR 50 million. Moreover, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori has also announced a reward of PKR 1 million.
Beyond the official rewards, Nadeem has garnered support from various public figures. Renowned Pakistani singer Ali Zafar has announced that he will contribute PKR 1 million to Nadeem, while cricketer Ahmad Shahzad has also pledged to award the Olympian the same amount through his foundation.
