WSF bans Pakistan’s squash official

Asghar punished for bringing the game, body into ‘disrepute’.

KARACHI: The World Squash Federation (WSF) has imposed a one-year ban on Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Secretary Irfan Asghar after he alleged that the president of the sport’s governing organisation was behind a visa delay that prevented Pakistan from taking part in the World Junior Championship.

Asghar, a serving Pakistan Air Force Wing Commander, was also slapped with a fine of £500 by the PSF.

The ban was imposed after a probe into Asghar’s interview in a local newspaper where he claimed that the WSF President N Ramchandran played a ‘malicious role’ in preventing Pakistan players from taking part in the tournament held in Belgium earlier this year.

Pakistan could not take part in the tournament but the WSF maintained that the “visa application could not be cleared because of a confusion created by the PSF itself”. The PSF secretary denied giving the interview but a telephone log obtained by the WSF confirmed a conversation had taken place. “The official has been banned because he has brought the game and WSF into disrepute,” read the WSF statement.

PSF terms decision ‘harsh’

Meanwhile, PSF Vice-President Qamar Zaman has termed the decision as harsh and said a warning could have sufficed. “We were very upset after missing out on the event,” Zaman told The Express Tribune. “It was just a reaction by the secretary over the disappointment. I personally believe it’s a harsh decision.”

‘Asghar had to go anyway’

Meanwhile, another PSF official said the secretary, who was given a warning after Pakistan fared poorly at the World Team Championship in Germany where he was serving as a manager as well, had his days numbered in the post.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2011.