ISLAMABAD - Sensational Pakistan went down 3-2 against Egypt in the Pakistan-Egypt squash exhibition series at the PAF Museum, Karachi on late Thursday night.
Pakistani players displayed quality squash and gave serious challenge to top ranked Egyptians. Only Asim Khan was beaten easily, while all the other four players exhibited their skills in highly-professional manner. Tayyab and Farhan Mehboob were so close to register highly unlikely upset victories before going down fighting in five hard-fought games against their respective opponents.
Past legends Jahangir Khan, Jansher Khan, Qamar Zaman, Zarak Jehan Khan and others alongside Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) president Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, senior vice president Air Vice Marash (R) Syed Razi Nawab, honorary secretary Group Captain Amir Nawaz, Flight Lt Sikander Mayo and others were present on the occasion and highly lauded the quality of squash displayed by the players of both the nations.
Pakistan was in dire strides and needed Farhan Zaman to fire all cylinders against world number 25 M Aboulghar to ensure its stay alive in the series, as it was 1-2 down and required nothing than victory. Farhan Zaman was a ordinary player in the recent past but he was completely transformed into a champion by the former world number 14 and Pakistan No 1 Shahid Zaman Khan during his stay at Boston. Shahid remained instrumental in not only lifting Zaman’s game, but also his morale, which was clearly evident from his last few months performances, as Farhan was on a constant upward trend in the PSA rankings and have won not only PSA titles in the USA, but also played exceptionally well in the recently-concluded 12th South East Asian Games in India and won silver medal in the individual event.
Farhan started the first game in whirlwind fashion and simply outclassed Aboulghar, who had no answers to Farhan’s pace and aggression. The Pakistani was moving freely in the court, enjoying overwhelming crowd support and playing fearless squash. He just dropped a single point to take the game 11-1. After playing so well, Farhan just got relaxed, which proved fatal for him, as Aboulghar stormed back into the match with a stunning performance in the second game and outclassed Farhan completely winning the game 11-5 to make things all square. It was the very dangerous time, as Farhan was well-known to dropping shoulders, when things were not in his favour.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, legends Jahangir and Jansher conveyed their tips to Farhan Zaman and the tips produced wonders for him, who once again started playing aggressively and was fighting for each and every point. He matched fire-with-fire and was not ready to allow room to Aboulghar and at last, he managed to shut the doors on Aboulghar, winning the third game 11-7.
Farhan had psychological advantage in the fourth game while Aboulghar was seemingly tired and was not able to keep the pace. Farhan was playing one of the best games of his life while crowd was cheering for him well, which put new energies in Farahn. It was a world class performance form the young lad, who simply outclassed far superior opponent and higher PSA-ranked player to win the fourth game 11-4, thus not only kept the series alive but also recorded highly unlikely 19-minute victory against Aboulghar.
It was all left on the shoulders of highly seasoned campaigner Farhan Mehboob to seal the fate of the series in Pakistan’s way. Farhan fought gallantly against world number 6 Tarek Momin, as glimpses of past were witnessed and after tough first game, which kept on swinging from one way to another, Farhan finally prevailed and took it 13-11. It was once again top class battle between the two high-flying players but this time, Tariq won 11-8. Farhan bounced back again in the third game, taking it 11-8, but after playing so well, Farhan just ran out of gas and lost next two game 4-11 and 6-11, and lost the battle in 51 minutes, which gave Egypt 3-2 victory and the series.
Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) president Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman was the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony and handed over the winning trophy and $40,000 to the winning Egyptian team, while runners-up trophy and $10,000 to Pakistan team. The chief guest lauded both the teams’ performances saying the series will open flood gates of international squash to Pakistan.