Overage players controversy: PSF picks squad cautiously for World Junior Squash

KARACHI: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has cautiously selected the squad for WSF World Junior Team Championship in order to avoid any allegations of fielding overage players.

Pakistan are the defending champions as they won the 2016 edition in Poland. Pakistan won the World Junior Team Championship after a gap of eight years but a few teams objected to the participation of Israr Ahmed and Abbas Shaukat, expressing doubts about their stated age.

World Squash Federation (WSF) then asked PSF to conduct age tests of Israr and Abbas at any of the WSF recommended laboratories but PSF refused to get the tests done in Malaysia and chose Sri Lanka. The WSF board then cleared both the players on the basis of the test reports.

“We had these age tests conducted in Sri Lanka from a laboratory which was approved by WSF. The results proved our stance and now we stand clear,” said the then PSF secretary Amir Nawaz. “The WSF has taken this decision on the report from Sri Lanka,” he added.

This issue was taken very seriously by the PSF’s new management. “We are not letting any overage players participate in local and international events,” said senior vice president PSF Shahid Alvi while talking to ‘The News’ some time back.

This time PSF has selected Abbas Zeb, Muhammad Uzair, Haris Qasim, and Farhan Hashmi for the Team Championships in which 28 countries will be competing. Uzair, Harris, and Farhan are playing the Championships for the first time that is scheduled in Chennai, India, from July 18-29.

Only Abbas, ranked 90th, in World Junior Circuit, has played WSF World Junior Individual Championship before. Uzair, ranked 124th in World Junior Circuit, played British Junior Open this year in the under-19 category.

Farhan played British Junior Open this year in under-17 category. Last year, he played Scottish Junior Open in the under-17 category.

Haris played British Junior Open this year in under-17 category. Last year, he played Scottish Junior Open in the under-17 category. Meanwhile, the six selected players for WSF World Juniors Championships proceeded to Karachi on Monday for training at Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex for one week.

The officials are Munawar Zaman (Manager) and Fazal Shah and Mohammad Yasin (Coaches). “The contingent will depart from Karachi on July 14,” said Aamir Iqbal, Game Development Officer of Pakistan Squash Federation.