Aamir's request to be exempted from the trials was also not accepted by the PSF, which insisted on making the selection process equal for all players. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI: After four days of trials and weeks of chaos marring the selection process, the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) finally announced the four-member squad for the World Team Championship to be held in France from June 9-15.
Led by left-hander Farhan Mehboob, the squad includes Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman and Sheikh Saqib, who won the fourth-place decider against Tayyab Aslam by 3-2.
National coach Jamshed Gul said the onus would be on Mehboob and Nasir to perform well at the mega event.
“Mehboob and Nasir would be expected to do well at the world championship,” Gul told The Express Tribune. “Zaman is also a young and exciting player but he lacks experience to play at the top level.”
Aamir Atlas sidelined
However, a blow for Pakistan would be the absence of Aamir Atlas Khan, recently crowned the Asian champion, after the squash ace did not take part in trials due to fitness concerns. His request to be exempted from the trials was also not accepted by the PSF, which insisted on making the selection process equal for all players.
Gul admitted Aamir’s absence was a blow. “I believe his presence would have benefitted a lot. He is a top player who can beat anybody.”
The players are due to take part in Professional Squash Association tournaments before departing for the mega event on June 7.
It has been learnt that the PSF still has an option of including a fifth member in the squad if it decides to take Aamir along with June 8 being the date to finalise the decision.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 25th, 2013.
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