The official "father of Pakistan cricket" is widely recognized as Abdul Hafeez Kardar. He was the first captain of the Pakistan cricket team and led the team in its formative years from 1952 to 1958. Kardar played a key role in establishing Pakistan as a competitive cricketing nation and is credited with popularizing cricket in Pakistan, mentoring young talent, and nurturing the sport's culture in the country. He also served as the president of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and was awarded the Pride of Performance by the Government of Pakistan in 1958
. While some social media posts humorously refer to Indian cricketer Virat Kohli as the "official father of Pakistan," this is not an official or historical designation but rather a playful or ironic meme circulating online
. Therefore, the historically and officially recognized father of Pakistan cricket is Abdul Hafeez Kardar
