Squash: More players pondering future in foreign land

Squash federation bracing itself for embarrassment.

KARACHI: After Waqar Mehboob’s announcement that he will not feature in events taking place in the country, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is bracing itself for further embarrassment as other players are pondering following suit.

Waqar said that he had decided to move to the US and, while he would continue to represent Pakistan, he will not feature in events in Pakistan. Now, other players, also irked by the federation’s lack of action in planning Professional Squash Association (PSA) events in the country, are considering moving abroad.

However, PSF Senior Vice-President Razi Nawab is trying to save the federation from embarrassment and has even held talks with the legendary Jansher Khan, who is also Waqar’s father-in-law, in order to convince the player on staying in Pakistan.

“Nawab has contacted Jansher to sort the matter with Mehboob (Waqar’s father) being in the meeting as well,” a senior PSF official told The Express Tribune.

It has been learnt that initially it was Farhan Mehboob, Waqar’s elder brother, who was offered the chance to play at the Pyramids club before he passed the offer. However, he is next in line, while Amir Atlas Khan and Danish Atlas Khan are likely to drop the bombshell.

“I won’t be able to decline another opportunity,” said Farhan. “We’ve done so well for Pakistan but we aren’t getting enough respect. We used to earn more at U14 level as compared to what we make now being the Asian champions.”

Meanwhile, Atlas Khan – father of Amir and Danish – has admitted that he has been  considering sending his sons as well.

“These players will continue to represent Pakistan in PSA tournaments but will remain in foreign countries. Amir has been Pakistan number one for  several years but hasn’t been provided a permanent job, which is really discouraging.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2012.