The sweat behind the glory

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As the premier of the ICC Champions Trophy draws closer, the cricket fever in Pakistan is building to a crescendo. Fans will rejoice, stadiums will roar, and the nation will revel in its moment of international triumph. Yet away from cricket's dazzling stage, a silent irony looms large - a sports sector beset by labour violations that expose the sweat that goes into each bat and ball.

Sialkot, the heart of Pakistan's sports manufacturing industry, produces some of the best sports equipment in the world. Beneath its stellar reputation, however, is a sobering narrative of low pay, unofficial labour, and harsh working conditions. If the Champions Trophy symbolises the game's glitz, Sialkot's workshops stand in for its unsettling underbelly.

It is here that the magic takes place. Dreams of FIFA-worthy footballs and cricket bats that win the World Cup are born in this city. However, it is also the city where dreams come at a price, which is paid for by the workers' consequential health issues.

Take the football, industry, for instance: 70% of the world's hand-stitched footballs are made in Pakistan, yet many of the artists who create them are overworked, underpaid, and in some cases, dangerously young. Even while international agreements, like the 1997 Atlanta Agreement, were prompted by the notorious child labour scandals of the 1990s, the darkest aspects of the industry have only grown more opaque. Undocumented labour is still exploited by subcontracted workshops that are shielded from official inspection.

A similar tale is told by the cricket bat industry. Workers put in lengthy hours sanding and shaping bats while wearing little to no safety gear, breathing in sawdust and weathering conditions in violation of international labour rules.

The Champions Trophy is more than just a cricket competition - it is a statement. Pakistan is announcing to the world that it is prepared. We've resolved the security issue. We are once again in the public eye. Yet it is hard to ignore that the industry that operates behind this pride is one of exploitation and neglect.

Think about it. The cricket bats and balls that are displayed on the Champions Trophy might have been made by workers who make less money each day than the cost of a match ticket. There is no more glaring contrast between local adversity and global prestige.

On paper, Pakistan's labour regulations appear to be strong. The nation has ratified a number of ILO conventions, and the right to decent pay and secure working conditions is protected by the Constitution. Enforcement, however, is still a quite different matter.

The shadowy sports manufacturing industry is driven by informal labour. Workers only being paid per piece produced, lie at the mercy of intermediaries. Then there is the unspoken issue of child labour. Although certification programmes and brands assert improvement, the truth is harder to stitch together. Due to the lack of efficient monitoring systems in place, exploitation can continue in smaller, subcontracted sites that are concealed from inquisitive eyes.

Alongside celebrating cricket, Pakistan should use the Champions Trophy as a chance to reflect on its workforce. Imagine if each cricket bat and ball used in the competition was marked with an ethical production stamp, demonstrating the abolition of child labour, safe working conditions, and fair wages. What better way to show the world that integrity, not exploitation, is the foundation of Pakistan's ascent to prominence in cricket!

There is a role for the government as well. An international tournament of this scale necessitates a dedication to moral behaviour in addition to stadiums and security measures. Enforcing labour rules, prioritising supply chain transparency, and extending accountability beyond the glitzy marketing of global corporations are all imperative.

The Champions Trophy is Pakistan's chance to shine. But true glory comes not merely from organising a top-notch event, but from standing up for the rights of those who make it possible. The sweat behind the glory deserves its moment too.