April 06, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 28, 1429

ISLAMABAD, April 5: It is one thing to organise an international tournament and another to play the national anthem.

Faces of spectators, and dignitaries like Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, at the Mushaf Ali Mir Squash Complex turned red when they rose to hear the national anthem before the start of the final match of the 6th COAS International Squash Championship here Saturday but heard something else.

Everyone began singing Pak sarzameen shadbad ...” but the tune being played on the public address system did not keep with their words. Nobody could recognise whose national anthem the organisers — the Punjab Squash Association (PSA) — were playing.

How could anyone choose any other country’s anthem for the occasion when both the finalists were Pakistani nationals? the stunned spectators wondered.

What was worse the organisers did not realise the mistake till last and played the wrong anthem to the full.

Four foreign players from

India, Malaysia and Britain participated in the Championship.

Pakistan Squash Federation official Asim Suleman later said that PSA was hosting the event and all arrangements in its hand. “PSF cannot be blamed for the blunder,” he said.

Aamir Atlas defeated Yasir Butt to win the cup and the championship. The tournament carried $25,000 in prize money.