Squash players embark on tough challenge

Four-member squad to take part in World Team Championship in France.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s four-member squad will leave today to take part in the World Squash Team Championship that is scheduled to be held from June 9 to 15 in Mulhouse, France.

Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Mehboob, Farhan Zaman and Sheikh Saqib complete the Pakistan line-up with Jamshed Gul the coach and Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Secretary Abdul Wahab Marwat accompanying the players as manager during the tour.

It has been learnt that Pakistan can still include Asian champion Aamir Atlas Khan in their line-up as his name has been included in the squad that was originally sent to the World Squash Federation. While his name features in the five-man list, the Pakistan Squash Federation has till June 8 to finalise his inclusion in the event.

Aamir, who had asked for exemption from trials held to finalise the squad for the event, did not take part in the selection process citing injury and headed home to Peshawar.

The federation, however, is still mulling including Aamir, said a PSF official.

“If we include Aamir then our chances of winning at the event increase,” the official told The Express Tribune. “But at the same time it will be seen as pressing the panic button at the last minute.”

Pakistani have been drawn against hosts France, Netherlands and Russia with only the top two qualifying to the last-16.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2013.