ISLAMABAD

Former world squash champion Qamar Zaman Khan has praised PSF president Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman for his efforts for bringing international squash back to Pakistan and urged him to pay focus on grooming fresh talent to revive lost squash glory.
Talking to The Nation, Qamar said: “It is a historic occasion that world’s elite Egyptian players are coming to play series against top Pakistan squash players in Karachi. It was not possible without Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) president’s active involvement and vision. It also endorsees our efforts, which we initiated in 2014 during my visit alongside PSF senior vice president Air Vice Marshal (R) Syed RAzi Nawab to England, where we met with top PSA officials and convinced them with out powerful arguments.”
Qamar said he had stressed to the PSA to allocate high prize-money event to Pakistan, as squash was played under conducive and highly secured environment. “I told them even Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials are not allowed to visit venues without proper check and going through security points and having valid passes. Squash is played in indoor courts and a very few people are involved and that too with proper invitations. It is not possible for any terrorist group or organisation to breach such tight security.
“Our arguments bore fruits when the PSA allocated $25,000 events to Pakistan and also allowed its registered players to travel to the country which ruled the game for decades. After that, not only top ranked male players but also female players came to Pakistan and only this year, 13 international female players from various countries took part in the 3rd Bahria Town $15,000 International PSA event, which was organised in a successful manner and the foreign players returned home with sweet memoires,” he added.
Qamar said the Pakistan-Egypt squash series would commence from April 6 in Karachi and would prove a milestone. “The holding of this high-profile event also means that the federation is very serious in promoting squash and determined to climb back to old glory days of squash.”
“Top Egyptian players will give a huge benefit to Pakistan players, as whether they win or lose, they will get huge exposure and learn a great deal while playing against the best in the business. I strongly recommended that after Egypt, other countries’ top players should be invited for similar series and also Pakistan players must be sent abroad to play against foreign players, as without playing against the PSA players, our players cant learn and excel,” the ex-squash legend said.
When asked about possibilities of Nasir Iqbal’s getting away from B sample report to be announced in a few days, Qamar said termed the chances as 50-50. “Had Nasir tested positive somewhere else not in India, his chances of getting the clean chit were quite bright, but now situation is quite unclear. Let’s hope for the best, but our prayers and best wishes are with Nasir to clear the test and once again play for Pakistan.”
Qamar said it was quite unfortunate that despite the PSF providing countless benefits and facilities to the players, they were not paying back in the same way. “I am sorry to say that it is the players fault, as they are not working hard, not training as per international requirements and get tired very soon. The players are frightened to spend time in training and rather look more interested in mobile phones and listening to music. We have very few senior players left, with Aamir Atlas, Danish Atlas in USA and Nasir Iqbal is under PSA radar.
“It is high time when the PSF must start work on U-13 and U-15, pick 25 to 30 juniors from the entire country, either base them in National Squash Academy in Islamabad or their respective provinces and start working on them, as it is the only to get back on right track and earn lost squash glory,” Qamar concluded.