Squash: PSF to continue with Asghar as secretary
Squash federation ignores world governing body’s ban on official .
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has decided to continue with Irfan Asghar as its general secretary despite the World Squash Federation’s (WSF) one-year ban on the official.
Asghar had accused the WSF president of preventing Pakistan from getting visas for Belgium, where the World Junior Championship was held, an event that the country eventually failed to participate in.
According to the PSF Vice-President Qamar Zaman, the ban does not apply to the inner workings of the country’s federation.
“The PSF is satisfied with Asghar,” Zaman told The Express Tribune. “He isn’t leaving office until later this year when his tenure ends. The WSF is an international body, while the PSF is a national organisation, which doesn’t come under their jurisdiction.”
The former world number two said that appointing a replacement for Asghar will depend on the PSF President Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman.
Zaman also defended the official saying that it was a case of mismanagement on the WSF’s part as well, as it failed to help Pakistani players get Belgian visas in time for the tournament. “Personally I believe that the WSF should’ve helped Pakistan and could’ve sorted out the visa issues for us. Squash is already facing a decline in the country and such setbacks are damaging its popularity. Help from the WSF would’ve helped promote the sport in the country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2011.
The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has decided to continue with Irfan Asghar as its general secretary despite the World Squash Federation’s (WSF) one-year ban on the official.
Asghar had accused the WSF president of preventing Pakistan from getting visas for Belgium, where the World Junior Championship was held, an event that the country eventually failed to participate in.
According to the PSF Vice-President Qamar Zaman, the ban does not apply to the inner workings of the country’s federation.
“The PSF is satisfied with Asghar,” Zaman told The Express Tribune. “He isn’t leaving office until later this year when his tenure ends. The WSF is an international body, while the PSF is a national organisation, which doesn’t come under their jurisdiction.”
The former world number two said that appointing a replacement for Asghar will depend on the PSF President Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman.
Zaman also defended the official saying that it was a case of mismanagement on the WSF’s part as well, as it failed to help Pakistani players get Belgian visas in time for the tournament. “Personally I believe that the WSF should’ve helped Pakistan and could’ve sorted out the visa issues for us. Squash is already facing a decline in the country and such setbacks are damaging its popularity. Help from the WSF would’ve helped promote the sport in the country.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 12th, 2011.