Squash: The ‘international’ event that has all Pakistani players

Governing body refuses to allow foreigners to take part in Lahore event.

KARACHI:

The Professional Squash Association’s (PSA) refusal to give security clearance to the international players has resulted in just New Zealand-based Kashif Shuja and Dubai-based Khawaja Adil Maqbool to feature in the 2nd FMC Pakistan International squash tournament that kicks off in Lahore today.

According to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), several international players expressed interest in taking part in the event but the PSA, citing security concerns, barred their participation. The line-up now includes 16 players, including the two players of Pakistan origin. Amir Atlas Khan, who is serving a two-year ban imposed by the PSF, is however, eligible to play in PSA tournaments.

Meanwhile, a PSF official expressed disappointment at the association’s decision.

“We received numerous entries but the PSA did not clear their participation,” the official told The Express Tribune. “The federation is making sincere efforts to revive the game in the country but, just like cricket, we have been unable to do. We were ready to facilitate them directly into the main round but the PSA did not agree.”

One of the participants said that the event was international just because of the name.

“Almost all the national players are taking part and the prize-money is similar to that of a domestic tournament,” he said. “So there’s no point in thinking of it as an international event.”

‘PSF should arrange bigger events in Pakistan’

Meanwhile, Atlas said that the PSF should try and arrange big tournaments in Pakistan instead of neutral venues.

The PSF signed an agreement with the UAE Squash Association for hosting Pakistan’s tournaments. However, Atlas thought it was a bad idea.

“UAE will be the biggest beneficiary,” said Atlas. “Our chances of hosting events will be dented even further. Quite a few top players want to come to Pakistan but they’ve been facing a few problems - the first is PSA disallowing their participation and the second is the meagre prize-money and low ranking points on offer.”

Atlas added that tournaments, offering $30,000 prize-money and up to 500 ranking points, used to be held in Pakistan but, according to the PSF, security concerns have forced the federation to cease staging such events anymore.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2012.