World Team Championship: Pakistan prevail over Canada in play-off

Squash team campaigning to host top foreign players.

KARACHI: Pakistan are out of the running for the World Squash Team Championship title but that did not affect their performance as they defeated Canada 2-0 in the play-offs to move a step closer to achieving the highest possible ninth place at the event.

Pakistan will play the 9th-10th place play-off against the winner of the US-Scotland match today. Nasir Iqbal won a marathon encounter against Shawn Delierre with a scoreline of 6-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 and 3-11, while Farhan Zaman registered a 3-2 triumph over Andrew Schnell.

While the main agenda in France remained winning the rest of the matches, the Pakistan contingent is also strongly campaigning to convince top foreign players to participate in national events back home.

This is being done in a bid to convince the Professional Squash Association (PSA) to allow international entries in the country’s events.

Pakistan had recently successfully conducted the Asian Individual Championship in Islamabad which helped in rebuilding the trust of international players. Several foreign participants stressed that they felt safe and their perception had changed about Pakistan.

The country then received its due award as the Asian Squash Federation nominated Pakistan as the hosts for the 2015 Squash World Cup to boost the improving reputation.

The Pakistan Squash Federation now feels that the time is right for international players to be allowed to participate in PSA tournaments here.

“We’re trying to urge top European players to push the PSA for allowing international entries in Pakistan’s tournaments,” a team member told The Express Tribune.

“The response we have received from the players is amazing which shows they also want Pakistan to hold top tournaments because of our rich history.“

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2013.