ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) senior vice president Air Vice Marshal (r) Syed Razi Nawab confirmed the federation has bought Rs 12.5 million worth state of the art five-glass squash court.
Talking to The Nation, Razi said the shipment had already arrived in Karachi. PSF secretary Group Captain Amir Nawaz is in Karachi and after the custom clearance, the court would be handed over to the federation by next few days.
Razi said: “It was need of the hour to keep a close check on the latest developments in world of squash. We hadn’t modern highly latest squash courts for a decade and we had been planning since long to add another highly sophisticated glass court, which now we have managed to get at a very cheap rate and had to pay in four easy installments. We had paid first installment and next three would be paid in due course of time.”
“We have decided to install the latest court at Hashim Khan Squash Complex, Peshawar. It would certainly boost the players’ performance and morale. Although some certain quarters were against this idea and wanted the court to be installed somewhere else due to commercial reasons, but I made them clear that Peshawar is a hub of squash and the kids in that area need this facility more than others. It will certainly add to the courts already existing there, and all the expenses of laying down the court at Hashim Khan Complex will be borne by Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Razi added.
He said they had started junior camp for the upcoming Asian Junior Team Squash Championship at Lahore under the guidance of Faheem Gul. Four boys Asim Khan, Ali Bokhari, Tayyab Aslam and Abbas Shoukat are training there. The championship will start from January 28 at Malaysia. We are the defending champions and hopefully, we will defend the title as we have the services of some best junior players who had won the title for the country. They will be called to Islamabad for last 12 days to train in glass courts.”
When asked about UK plan and when the top two players would be stationed there under the command of M Yasin, Razi replied: “The work is already in progress, and we have discussed with Yasin in this regard. We will register Nasir Iqbal and Farhan Zaman in UK clubs, and they will reside at Yasin's home and he will accompany them in all the events to be held in Europe and Yasin will be paid for this. We have delayed the plan just because of Nasir's health issues, as we want to give him rest for at least three months so that he may fully recovered. This delay was ordered by PSF president Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, who wanted Nasir to be fully fit, focused and composed.
“Our players are on high, and they have improved their PSA rankings. Yes, it is true Farhan Zaman is having some difficulties, but he will soon get over that.”
He rubbished the claims that the federation had taken a back step by abolishing coach post. “The matter of the fact is that we have decided to hire maximum coaches for our players. We have broaden the canvas, now our focus is completely on PSA rankings, as without significant raise in rankings, our players can't get what we are expecting from them.”
“Now each coach will impart coaching on only two players, and it will not only benefit the players but also the federation and the players will get more attention and time to improve their PSA rankings,” he added.
When asked about the status of the special grant of Rs 50 million approved by prime minister Mian M Nawaz Sharif for the PSF, Razi stated: “We are closely following that, and all the hurdles had been cleared. Now the cheque is lying with AGPR, and I am quite hopeful we will get the amount by the end of the year. Any further delay will further aggravate the situation, as our financial position is very weak.”
“If the amount is not recovered by the end of this month or early next month, we are bound to face severe cash hazards and possibly, our ambitions will suffer a great deal, so it is humble requested to clear the amount as early as possible to help Pakistan squash back on track.
Currently, we are finding it really difficult to even run day-to-day affairs of the federation, sending players abroad for PSA events is a far cry,” Razi concluded.