October 9, 2001	Tuesday	Rajab 21, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: The Pakistan Open Squash Championship Monday became the latest in a series of international sporting events to have been affected as organisers announced it was being postponed due to a poor response from foreign players.

The Punjab Squash Association were to host the $80,000 Super Series event in Lahore from Nov 9 to 16 for which only a few foreigners sent in their entries.

With flight schedules badly hit and Pakistan having been declared a high-risk region for intending travellers following the events of Sept 11 in the United States, the top ranked players chose to stay away.

Secretary of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Sqd. Ldr. Sajid Waheed speaking to Dawn said that the Professional Squash Association (PSA) had appreciated the decision. New dates for the competition will be fixed in 15 to 20 days, he said and added that the tournament was now most likely to be organised in March.

The tournament hosts were also facing difficulties in getting an all-glass court insured which they were to obtain on rent from a party in England for 7000 pounds.

Only one player among the top ten in the world had sent in his entry while there were about 12 other lower ranked players. “Without the top guns staging the tournament is pointless,” Sajid said. The organisers were expecting between 30 to 35 foreign players to compete.

All major sporting events in Pakistan have now either been postponed or cancelled. The New Zealand cricket team cancelled a three-Test tour last month followed by the Champions Trophy hockey tournament in Nov being moved out of Lahore by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The Oct 6 to 15 SAF Games in Islamabad also had to be rescheduled for March 30 next year.