The Pakistan number one is rebuilding his career after a controversial ban by the Pakistan Squash Federation, and suggested the PSF should listen to him rather than treat him punitively.
"What they did was totally unfair," Khan said of a two-year ban imposed for disappointing performances at last year's world team championships, a punishment which was then apparently modified to accept his right to compete on the PSA Tour.
"Ban the top player and you ban the person who plays for the country. Banning me was like banning Pakistan squash," he added indignantly.
"I don't know what was going on inside the PSF but whatever it was it was bad for the promotion of squash. Ban top players or those playing for the country, and it's like hitting your own legs with a stick."
Khan, the 21-year-old nephew of Jansher Khan, a Pakistani legend who won the World Open a record eight times, slumped surprisingly from a career high world number 14 in late 2009 to 30 in the middle of last year.
However there were signs of improvement here in Grand Central terminal at the Tournament of Champions, the first World Series event of the 2012 PSA Tour, with Khan taking Mohammed El Shorbagy, the fastest rising player in the top ten, to four hard games.
Aamir attributes his renewed self-belief partly to Jahangir Khan, another Pakistani squash legend who once went five years unbeaten and who offered him support when he was at his lowest ebb.
"Jahangir got information about the ban and he personally called me and I appreciated him for this," he said. "He gave me a good briefing, and gave me motivation and I was very happy.
"He is a very nice person and very sincere about squash. If other players followed Jahangir's example it would be great for the promotion of squash."
Not all ex-players have Jahangir's attitude, Aamir Atlas Khan claims. Some have egotistical reasons for not wanting the current generation to succeed, he believes.
"A few former players are also responsible for the damage to squash, because they don't want squash to come top in our country again," he alleged, before modifying the remark.
"Everyone knows who that former player is," he went on, confirming that "it is just one player".
He added: "People are really helping now and want to do something for the promotion of squash but most are not really in a position to do so because they are not linked with the PSF."
The federation should listen and not dictate, he concluded.
"I think PSF should follow Jahangir Khan's advice and listen to my advice too. I have some good planning for the PSF. It will help them.
"Training is very different now from before. Squash is faster and sharper now. You need a different kind of training now. But people in Pakistan still think and want to do the same training, which is no longer beneficial.
"They should hire new coaches, qualified coaches, who have been involved with squash recently. It would be good for the PSF to hire a physical trainer from abroad."
Aamir Atlas Khan currently travels alone, something no leading player does, and therefore needs help in acquiring sponsorship for a coach and a physio to accompany him.
Despite this he said he'll still try to play 13 tournaments in 2012, aiming to reach the world's top ten this year as he tries to bring back some glory to the land of the sport's greatest legends.
COMMENTS (3)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731071675-0/Express-Tribune-Web-(29)1731071675-0-270x192.webp "violence erupts in amsterdam as israeli fans provoke clash with locals")
1725254039-0/Untitled-design-(24)1725254039-0-270x192.webp "no confirmation yet on india s refusal to participate in ct 2025 mohsin naqvi")
1731068219-0/Express-Tribune--(9)1731068219-0-270x192.webp "mohammad rizwan equals record for most catches in single odi")
@Gasherbrummistani: Its true..and remeber Gaultier was sick(injured) on that day.
Appreciate the squash coverage. The opinions of Aamir, however, are absurd. The very reason he climbed up to 14 in the PSA rankings were the local tournaments organized by the squash federation. As no international players participated, Aamir and the rest of the Pakistani contingent were able to pick up cheap ranking points. They were subsequently exposed cruelly when those ranking points expired and they plummeted down the list. Aamir's only notable performance over the past few years has been his victory over Greg Gaultier of France. He beat Ramy Ashour of Egypt once as well, but that was because Ramy was playing injured. Aamir claims coaching is a problem, but the tendency is for these players to engage their fathers as coaches, so that any stipend received stays in the family. They have serious attitude issues, living off the reputations of their family's past achievements. When it comes down to it, however, they are quick to point the fingers at these very same family members (Jansher, who happens to be Aamir's uncle). The fact that Aamir was banned for deliberately under-performing when representing Pakistan should be an eye opener for all. Don't count on such individuals to restore any lost pride. It would be a good idea to also pursue the other side of the story rather than relying on just one rather obtuse angle.
whos "that" former player? Jan-sher?