Pakistan, Oct. 19 -- The week in sport has offered Pakistan a study in contrasts. The government has ordered an inquiry into the Athletics Federation's lifetime ban on Olympic coach Salman Butt. The Afghan cricket board has abruptly withdrawn from the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan. At the same time, the junior hockey side earned rare acclaim for a spirited 3-3 draw against India at the Sultan of Johor Cup. Together these moments illuminate how Pakistani sport continues to balance promise with the persistent weight of disorder.

The hockey result was a reminder of what remains possible when discipline meets heart. Young players such as Hamza Fayyaz and Sufyan Khan showed courage and poise, their performance praised as "no less than a vic...