Squash: I’m never playing in Pakistan again, says Waqar
However, Waqar will continue to represent Pakistan but lamented that the PSF has failed to send players for any Professional Squash Association (PSA) tournament on its expenditure despite a recent promise and forced him to look for an alternative.
“My career is going nowhere because the PSF isn’t helping the players improve their ranking,” Waqar told The Express Tribune. “I’m now going to play in the US but will continue to represent Pakistan. The Pyramid Squash Club in New York has offered me to play for them in local leagues. They’ll also help me financially with the PSA events and that’s an offer I can’t turn down because I need to focus on my career which is going nowhere in Pakistan.”
Waqar was one of three players – Aamir Atlas Khan and Yasir Butt the other two – who were banned by the PSF for underperforming at the world championship. That point on, Waqar’s ranking has continued to slump and he currently lies at the 172nd place — well below his career-best of 67 in 2009. The player, though, admitted that it was a ‘tough’ step to take but a daily allowance of Rs100, given by the PSF during training camps, was simply not enough.
“This amount is laughable to say the least. I’ll make $700 to $800 in the US daily.”
It has been learnt that other players are also not satisfied with the PSF’s attitude after getting no updates on their participation in PSA tournaments, prompting them to skip the training camp in Islamabad in protest. Waqar’ father Mehboob Khan, who is a PSF professional coach, said that he has been looking after his three sons – Farhan, Waqar and Waqas – for the last three years since the PSF had proved to be insufficient.
“This isn’t easy because they are playing at an international level. The federation should start fulfilling its promises otherwise I fear more players will leave to play abroad.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2012.
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Waqar leave pakistan soon because it is better for pakistan squash. Because you guys are not player you are just time pass and waisting the money of pakistani peoples and squash federation.
Roxlet's right. No leagues. You can't play both PSA and PST. If he's looking for funding he's barking up the wrong tree. No way are they going to pay him anywhere close to $700 that unless he teaches 12 hours a day, which would destroy his game. Would love to have good players in NY, but he needs a better plan.
I know Pyramid Club well, and there is no way that this young man will be making anything close to $700 a day. He should talk to Yassir Butt who only stayed a few months before moving on to greener -- and more lucrative pastures. Also, there are no professional leagues here like there are in Britain. Maybe he will be playing PSA or PST tournaments, but he will also be teaching 5 year olds.
@Singh
I guess Waqar doesn't know how to talk English in Punjabi
Considering he was knocked out in the first round of both tournaments he played in Pakistan this year, and the fact that he was suspended for deliberately underperforming when he last represented Pakistan, I would think he doesn't have much of a case for support. These underachieving brats living in the past glories of their family members need to put more effort in on the courts rather than spewing their crap to any conspiracy theorist that is looking for a headline. No loss for squash in Pakistan if Waqar flies away. There are better players that deserve the funding more than him.
Hahaha nice one@Frantic:
@Singh: There's nothing wrong with this english mate..... u need to get some exposure!!
Squash: I’m never playing in Pakistan again, says Waqar
Does it make any sense? He need to learn English first.
Story of any Pakistani with a better opportunity overseas. Good for him. Good for anyone who makes a better life for himself.
Oh Pakistanis...this time plzz vote for a sensible leader..!