ISLAMABAD-Former Asian individual squash champion Aamir Atlas Khan has announced his availability for the national team and vowed to win laurels for the country.
Talking to The Nation, former world No 14 Aamir, who had honour of winning prestigious Asian squash title for Pakistan after a gap of 15 long years, said: “I can’t watch Pakistan squash going down with each passing day. I was badly hurt and disappointed with the previous PSF management, who imposed highly unjustified ban on me, which ruined not only my ambitions, but also inflicted irreparable damages on national cause. I demand Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) president Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman to take strict action against former senior vice president and secretary, as they are responsible for the debacle. Just because of their behaviour and policies, a number of players turned their backs on Pakistan, but now just in the best interest of Pakistan, I have returned home and ready to represent my country.
“I strongly believe that PSF senior vice president Air Marshal Shahid Akhtar Alvi and secretary Tahir Sultan have been doing tremendous jobs. They are serious about Pakistan squash and working tirelessly to regain lost squash glory. Being a true Pakistani and squash player, I have made the decision to come back from USA. I was quite satisfied there, but I belong to a squash family, who had given Pakistan so much and my coach Atlas Khan, who is also my father, asked me and my brother Danish Atlas to return home. Soon after returning home, I have been training for the last two days. There is a huge responsibility on my shoulders of carrying nation’s hopes in the upcoming mega events. I assure that like past, I will do my level best to help Pakistan regain all the lost titles one after another.
“I have come back home unconditionally and I have no demand from anybody especially from the federation. I request other players as well to return home and represent the country and help it win international medals,” he added.
Aamir said that he had not played competitive squash for more than a year due to which he was out of shape. “But let me assure all that I am back, I will not sit back and will regain fitness in a month or so. I have made myself available for the country and now it is up to the federation, if they want me to join Pakistan National Squash Academy (PNSA) in Islamabad or Peshawar. I am ready to join the academy, as I feel, my father Atlas Khan has the vast experience of training not only me, Danish and other brothers, but also knows inside out of us. He is the best man in the present situation to train us and bring us back in shape.
“But as I said earlier that I am ready to play for Pakistan, as it is a national cause. After Nasir Iqbal was banned for 4 years, the burden of national hopes whole-solely shifted on Farhan Mehboob’s shoulders. I just want to request SVP and secretary to understand difference between a proven stuff and blue-eyed players. We all must shun differences in the best interest of the country and squash. I know one thing very clearly that Farhan Mehboob, Danish, Farhan Zaman, Nasir (after completing his ban) and I can enjoy highly formidable team and can beat any given opponent.
“My past is like an open book. I have beaten all the top players and I can repeat that in short span of time. I am working very hard to regain full fitness. Let me assure the federation of my support that I will play out my heart to help Pakistan squash flourish and regain lost glory. Commonwealth Games are just round the corner and I have set my sights on it. With the experience of Mehboob, flare of Danish and power of mine, we can pose serious challenge to any given opponent and can clinch title once against,” Aamir concluded.
