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Akhtar Rasool Kamboh(Arain) is a field hockey player and Olympian from Pakistan. He has three Hockey World Cups Gold. He played Center Half in Pakistan hockey. Akhtar is considered one of the creative geniuses in center-half recovery and ball distribution.
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Akhtar was born on January 13, 1954 in Faislabad District of Pakistan, formerly known as Lyallpur. His father Dr Gulam Rasool Chaudhury Kamboh(Arain) was himself a world-renowned hockey Olympian beside being an eminent educationist of Pakistan. Akhtar graduated from Government College Lahore. During his college days, Akhtar remained the captain of the College Hockey team. He was awarded "Roll of Honor" and "College Color" for his excellent performance in hockey.
Akhtar was noted for his clean style play and spectacular performance and as such was included in the Pakistani national hockey team in 1971. He was a player of relaxed approach but extreme courage, control and poise were hallmarks of his excellence in a highly demanding position at center-half. From 1971 till 1982, Akhtar played numerous national and international matches, displaying his superior skills in hockey.
He had an exceptional technique and a knack of passing the ball to the right player at the right time. In the latter part of his hockey career, Akhtar made a great mark for himself.
He played a crucial role in Pakistan's victories in 1978 and 1982 Hockey World Cup. In 1982, Akhtar captained the Pakistani team for the Hockey World Cup Championship held in Bombay and won a gold medal for Pakistan by defeating India in the finals.
After Bombay Hockey World Cup, Akhtar retired in a blaze of glory as skipper of the side which had won the gold in 1982. By then, he had the singular distinction of being the only player to have played in four World Cups.
Akhtar also played in the 1972 Summer Olympics held at Munich, 1976 Summer Olympics held at Montreal and 1980 Summer Olympics held at Moscow and won Silver and Bronze Medals in 1972 and 1976, respectively.
Akhtar retired from active hockey after winning Hockey World Cup, at Bombay in 1982. He remains active in hockey by coaching or training young players in Pakistan with the primary intention of promoting Pakistani hockey.
Akhtar has held the offices of President of Punjab Sports Board; President, Punjabi Hockey Association; and President, Punjab Athletics Association. In 1997, he was elected Chief of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF)---Pakistan’s hockey supreme body---for a one year term. He took over the reins at a time when the PHF was almost bankrupt and had gotten out of the 1996 players revolt just before the Hockey World Cup. He was re-elected PHF chief for a second term till 2002 but resigned in 1999 for personal reasons. He then served as the Chairman of the selection committee in 2002. In 1983, Akhtar was awarded Pride of Performance, the highest civil award by the Pakistani Government, in recognition of his contributions to Pakistani hockey.
After retirement from active hockey, Akhtar entered politics in 1985. He contested as an independent and was elected MLA to Punjab Assembly. In 1986, he became Excise and Taxation Minister of Punjab. In 1988, he was elected from P.P 128 Ichhra on Islami Jamhuri Mujahid ticket and became the Sports Minister of Punjab. In 1990, he again contested on Islami Jamhuri Mujahid ticket and was elected MLA with a big margin. In 1993, he contested Parliament seat on Muslim League ticket and became MPA.
Akhtar had been a very close associate of Nawaz Sharif, former Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Akhtar Rasool belongs to the Punjabi Kamboh (Kamboj) tribe.