ISLAMABAD - Last Pakistani hope in the British Open U-13 category, M Hamza was thrashed by top seed Egyptian Islam Kouratam in straight games in the semi-finals of the British Junior Squash Championship 2018, played in Birmingham, England on Saturday.
M Ammad was also beaten by Islam last night in the quarterfinals in U-13 category. It was highly questionable performance shown by the Pakistani players in all categories with the only exception of Hamza and Ammad. It also left huge question marks on the Pakistan National Squash Academy (PNSA) working, as the academy has fail to produced a single major performer and it also validates the point raised by this correspondent regarding that Fahim Gul should be given the youngsters. And the federation must hire a time-tested head coach, who could steady the fast sinking ship.
Highly placed sources in the federation on condition of anonymity have confirmed to The Nation that, Senior Vice President Air Marshal Shahid Akhtar Alvi, who is beyond doubt highly passionate about reviving fortunes of squash and generating huge amount of funds, was first trying to hire a top class Egyptian coach. Sources confirmed that the top coach could have cost federation a whopping Rs1 million as monthly salary, besides accommodation, car, fuel and air tickets at least twice a year. It could have cost federation around Rs 1.5 million every month, which was obviously too much for a federation like the PSF. Sources confirmed to The Nation that SVP was willing to pay Rs o.5 million salary besides other perks and privileges, but SVP completely ignored the highly cheaper and most viable option of local coach, Jamshed Gul, who had produced wonders during his two years stint as head coach and was deliberately shown the door by former senior vice president Air Vice Marshal Razi Nawab and secretary Amir Nawaz just to hide their blunders.
Since the Alvi and secretary Tahir Sultan have taken over the reins of the federation, things have improved drastically and they both are working very hard, taking steps in the right direction. But as witnessed in the past, some so-called well-wishers of Pakistan squash are hijacking their efforts and passing on highly dubious suggestions. Sources confirmed that federation after getting frustrated in their pursuit of Egyptian coach, now look all set to hire the services of highly flopped and too old Muhammad Yasin, who is England-based and could hardly move in the court. He was a super flop when he was initially hired by previous administration. A person, who can’t stand properly due to his age, how on earth he can train players. Pakistan squash badly need a qualified and proven stuff and not used bullets like Yasin and others. Instead of wasting time, SVP must contact Jamshed Gul, who is applying his trade in the USA and convince him to come back as he is the man who can revive fortunes of Pakistan squash.
Hamza was carrying entire nation’s hopes in the semi-finals against the top seed Egyptian and he started the first game on a positive note. Talking to The Nation Tahir Sultan, manager, who is also PSF informed that after playing so well in the first game and giving Kouratam real run for money, Hamza got badly hit by his opponent’s elbow, which badly hampered his ambitions and he failed to repeat what he had shown in the tournament. Hamza lost 8-11, 6-11, 4-11. Now he will play for third and 4th position match. Earlier, Ammad lost against same opponent in the quarterfinals 0-3, losing 6-11, 9-11 and 8-11.