PSF irked at medical test request

World squash body asks Pakistan to resolve players’ age issue.

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Squash Federation has gotten into a tangle with the sport’s world governing body after being asked to conduct medical tests on its players, it has been learnt by The Express Tribune.

Pakistan, who are currently taking part in the World Junior Squash Team Championship in Doha, were asked to submit their medical tests that would help determine the players’ age and put the issue to bed. Danish Atlas Khan, Nasir Iqbal, Hamza Bokhari and Tayyab Aslam are the four players taking part in the event.

The PSF officials, however, have said that this is a ‘cheap tactic’ by the World Squash Federation (WSF), aimed at putting pressure on Pakistan players.

“If our players are tested then the same should apply to other teams,” a senior PSF official told The Express Tribune. “That’s how it should be done professionally. Cheap tactics are being used to keep Pakistan disturbed in some way or the other. We want England, Egypt and India players to be tested.”

Pakistan team members are also not pleased over biased umpiring during the individual championship which was won by Egypt’s Marwan El Shorbagy. There were complaints during Atlas and Iqbal’s losses against Shorbagy as they said that the referee deprived them of crucial points which could have turned the match in their favour.

The PSF also maintained that they have conducted the medical tests and remain sure about their eligibility in the championship.

In Pakistan squash circles, allegations have made the round that some players at the U19 level were over-age. The claims have followed WSF asking the Pakistan body to conduct medical tests since it thought that there were question marks over the accuracy of their ‘date of birth’ details on the passports.

Pakistan cruise past South Africa

Meanwhile, Pakistan had no problem in brushing aside 13th-seed South Africa 3-0 in their team championship’s first match as captain Atlas was rested.

Bokhari defeated Nell Van Der Merwe 3-0 with scores of 11-3, 11-7, 11-3 while Iqbal and Aslam won their matches against Ruan Olivier and Simpiwe Gqibane respectively.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2012.