Inter-Provincial Games: Sindh squash players stopped

KARACHI: The eight-member Sindh squash team, four boys and four girls, were stopped from participation in the Inter-Provincial Games, which began in Peshawar on Sunday.

The eight players had been selected by Sindh Squash Association (SSA), which is recognised by Sindh Olympic Association. But surprisingly just a few hours before the competitions, the officials and the players were informed that they could not participate in the event.

It may be noted that Sindh Squash Association was divided four years ago. A group led by Amir Khan won the provincial squash association’s election held under the Sindh Olympic Association.

But Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) patronises a parallel group. SSA president Muzaffar Husain Shujra told ‘The News’ that the double standards of PSF were responsible for this debacle.

“We wrote two weeks ago to POA and PSF that we were sending the players from Sindh to participate in the Inter Provincial Games. They put up no objection. But our players were stopped because of pressure from a person who has destroyed the game of squash in Sindh at the last moment. This is nothing but killing of talent,” he said.

He said PSF and POA should realise what they were doing with children of the country. Shujra added that he tried to contact the POA president Arif Hasan when this incident happened, but he did not receive the call.

Shujra, who is also the chairman of Sindh Olympic Association (SOA), vowed that he would raise the issue at all forums to secure the rights of Sindh’s players. He said he was determined to expose those who were behind this conspiracy. He asked the players to stay determined. “It is time we exposed the person who is destroying squash in the country,” he said.