May 20, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, May 19: President of the Asian Squash Federation (ASF) has assured Pakistani officials that they would face no security or visa problems for this August’s World Junior Team Championship in Chennai, India.

Secretary of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Sqd. Ldr. Sajid Waheed told Dawn Sunday that he had met Mr. Ramachandaran, the ASF boss, in Kuala Lumpur during the Asian Senior Championship earlier this month. “He has given us assurance of players’ security and told us there was nothing to fear.”

Asked if Pakistan would compete in India with tension between the two countries having reached a boiling point, Sajid said that if everybody else was taking part, he did not see any reason for Pakistan to boycott the championship. “ Besides we are quite hopeful of winning the title, so it is in our own interest to take part in the event.”

The trials to select the team for the championship are due to start in Islamabad from May 22 in which 10 players will take part. Out of this lot, six players will be picked with four making the team while the other two will be the reserves.

The players who will attend the trials are Majid Khan, Arshad Iqbal Burki, Khayal Mohammad, Imran Mohib, Saeed Hasan, Naseem Tehakali, Khalid Atlas, Shahnawaz, Safeerullah Khan and Waseem Shahid.

These players would go through league matches following which the top six will be selected. “The successful players would remain in training under coach Rehmat Khan.”

Sajid said that keeping in view the hot weather in Chennai, the PSF plans to hold a month-long training camp in Karachi to help the players get the feel of similar conditions they are going to face in India.