There has been a dearth of new talent in the Pakistani cricket squad for many years because Pakistan is unable to play any regular international cricket tournaments on its soil; this is often attributed to Pakistan losing out on regular international competitions on their ground. The game has not lost its charm, and Pakistan's passion for cricket still beats despite all the criticism, disagreements, and disputes with rival boards and domestic politics.
Hindus and Christians have both represented Pakistan on the team over the years, both at home and abroad. Mahinder Pal Singh is the first Pakistani Sikh who defied all odds and created history by making his way into the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
Mahinder, born on 31 March 1996, is predominantly a right-arm medium-fast bowler who hails from Nankana Sahib. He claims that he is honored to be able to represent the entire Pakistani Sikh population and that he is happy to have been accepted into the Pakistani Cricket Academy. It was the fact of Mahinder's ethnicity that made the news, belonging as he does to perhaps the smallest minority in Pakistan.
Mahinder stated his wish to make Pakistan proud in a video that has been making the rounds on social media. He also praised his coach and the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for having trust in him and recognizing the talent he possesses.
Mahinder Pal Singh was included in the list of the top 30 emerging cricketers in the country. Throughout Pakistan's cricketing history, only seven non-Muslim cricketers have represented the country; Mahinder joins the group as the eighth non-Muslim and the first Pakistani Sikh who was not a Muslim.