PSF announcements ‘confuse’ players

Trials for Asian Junior squash

KARACHI: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has confused players and their parents by complicating the trials for the Asian Junior squash championship being held from August 15-19 in Jordan.

PSF first announced that all the provincial associations should hold open trials for the selection of junior players for appearing in the national trials.

“The provincial associations will conduct trials, both for boys and girls in under-13, -15, -17, and -19 age groups and recommend the names of two players in each category for the national trials whose dates will be announced shortly,” said a spokesman of PSF.

When provincial associations completed this task, the PSF announced the dates of the national trials. “On 16th, the federation announced national trails in Lahore on the 19th,” said an official of a provincial squash association while talking to ‘The News’.

The official added that this created panic for parents and their children. They protested that they did not have enough time to reach Lahore. The PSF delayed the trials to 29th.

“The 29th could be one of the Eid holidays, so this date too is not feasible. The PSF further complicated the issue by announcing a national tournament in Lahore from July 12-15,” said the official.

The tournament is all Pakistan Junior National Squash Championship to be held at Punjab Squash Complex, Lahore, for Under-11, -13, and -15 boys with qualifiers on July 10 and 11 and the main round from July 12-15. The prize money is Rs100,000. 

“This means that the players appearing in the national trials should go back to their provinces after the trials and come back to Lahore for this national championship, which is difficult,” said the official.

Moreover, the official added, a big confusion the PSF has created is that players have not been told whether they are going to Jordan in this championship on their own (self sponsorship) or the PSF would sponsor them. “The players think they will be sponsored by PSF for Asian championship,” said the official.

This scribe tried to contact PSF secretary Tahir Sultan to seek his version but he did not receive the calls.

According to PSF, the two-phase trials will ensure that promising and deserving players take part in it. PSF stated it would field a strong team in the Asian junior squash to get desired results.