ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Sports Boards (PSB) delaying tactics can inflict huge damage to cause of Pakistan squash team, which is the defending champion of the Asian Senior Team Squash Championship male category.
Only three days left are in Pakistan squash team’s departure but the PSB is still not ready to release grant of Rs1 million which it promised some three weeks back. The inside sources in the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) have confirmed to this scribe that the federation has been facing acute shortage of funds and now only three days are left in both male and female national teams departure to Hong Kong to feature in the 17th Asian Senior Squash Championships (male and female), but the PSB, despite making several promises of issuing Rs1 million grant for the event, is not fulfilling its promise.
A total of Rs 3 million is required for the 10-member Pakistani delegation for this mega event. The PSB has to give only Rs 1 million, but they are not even releasing that amount. Who will be responsible if the national players are deprived of partaking in the mega event?
Pakistan male team is almost guaranteed a semifinal berth as per draws were announced on Thursday, while female players are all set to earn at least a place in the quarterfinals. Male team is placed in pool B alongside Korea, Singapore and Macau. Pakistan is hot favorite to top the group and likely to meet Malaysia or hosts Hong Kong in the semifinals, while on the other hand, female team is also placed in pool-B, which include India, Hong Kong, China, Pakistan and Iran. Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada must take notice of this grave situation and order the PSB to issue the promised grant to the PSF.
Squash has given Pakistan name and fame. The main reason behind the squash decline is non-serious attitude of the concerned persons. The federation under their limited resources and with the lime contribution of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is working tirelessly to bring back old glory days but the PSB is creating unwanted hurdles in smooth running of affairs.
When this scribe contacted PSF secretary Group Captain Amir Nawaz to seek his point of view on the prevailing situation, he said: “Situation is very tight and at this moment, I can't afford to take any risk. I have requested time and again to the PSB DG to release grant so that we may arrange tickets and address other areas of concerned. But despite making several promises of early release, nothing on ground was done and we are now in a fix.”
“ If the PSB doesn't release funds by today (Friday), I will be left with no other option but to once again request PSF president Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt to shoulder the burden and I am sure he will not let us down. We have spent millions of rupees on four-month long training camp with the help of PAF so both teams will surely depart at any cost and take part in the mega events,” Amir concluded.