PSF’s policy of hosting events criticised

KARACHI: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has been advised to organise an international league to prepare players for competitive tournaments at the international level instead of wasting money on hosting PSA-25 events in Pakistan.
“PSF is to spend around Rs9 million on hosting two $25,000 events in the country in October and November and there are little chances of Pakistani players winning these tournaments because they are not able to win such high-prized events with their current form,” said Sindh Squash Association (SSA) secretary Amir Khan.
The first event is the CAS International Squash Championship, scheduled from October 1-6, and the other is Pakistan International Squash Tournament, scheduled from November 5-10.
Both are to be played at Mushaf Squash Complex, Jinnah Stadium, Kashmir Highway, Aabpara, Islamabad.
“Our top players don’t have any chance of winning these two events as they even fail to win against unseeded players in international tournaments,” added Amir. “And the PSF is pressing the international squash authorities to give more PSA-25 events to Pakistan, which is irrational and not cost effective,” he said.
He said the PSF should organise an international league and invite international players, especially Egyptians, to play with local players. “The federation can invite Egyptian players in less than half the amount it is spending on PSA-25 events. Our players need competitive squash, not a few matches in international events,” Amir said.
He added that if current Asian junior champion Israr Ahmed got opportunity to play with Egyptian players for a month, he would certainly improve his game and win laurels for the country. “This can happen only in a league. Many international top men and women squash players today are the product of league system,” said Amir.
Egyptian players Omar Abdel Meguid and Karim Ali Fathi, ranked 31st and 42nd, are two top seeded players in the two tournaments PSF is going to host.
Omar Abdel Meguid won the first PSA-25 event PSF hosted in Pakistan last year since 2007.
PSF secretary Amir Nawaz, however, defends the decision of hosting high-prized events in Pakistan. “We are the custodians of squash so we have to have such big international events in Pakistan,” he said. “Having no international events in Pakistan is the reason why we have fallen behind,” said the PSF secretary.
He added that hosting big international tournaments in the country gives inspiration to junior players. “We have also planned to revive Pakistan Open, which was our greatest contribution to the game of squash,” he asserted.