October 09, 2008	Thursday	Shawwal 9, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Oct 8: Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) officials will be travelling to England next week to convince some leading players, who are reluctant to tour Pakistan due to security fears, to take part in the Pakistan Open squash championship.

The event is scheduled to be held at the Mushaf Squash Complex here from Nov 10.

Talking to Dawn on telephone from the UK, Sheila Cooksley, the tour executive of the Professional Squash Association (PSA), said that “some foreign squash players have shown reservations about playing in Pakistan due to prevailing security situation”.

She added that besides meeting top squash players, the PSF officials would also be meeting PSA’s top brass regarding the upcoming event.

Cooksley further said the PSA had extended the entry date of the Pakistan Open till Oct 20 on the request of PSF.

Meanwhile, a sports official, on the condition of anonymity, said that top foreign players have pulled out of the Pakistan Open squash championship, citing security concerns.

Some of the players who have indicated their desire to withdraw from the tournament are: world no.1 Amr Shabana (Egypt), Gregory Gaultier (France), James Willstrop (England), Ramy Ashour (Egypt), David Palmer (Australia), Karim Darwish (Egypt), Nick Matthew (England), Ong Beng Hee (Malaysia), Mohd Azlan Iskandar (Malaysia), Peter Barker (England), Lee Bechill (England), Adrian Grant (England) and Olli Tuominen (Finland).

If these players refuse to play in Pakistan it would be a second major blow to the country as the ICC Cricket Champions Trophy which was scheduled to be held in Pakistan this year was postponed till next year due to security fears raised by some leading Test playing nations.

However, the PSF officials are confident that they can convince the foreign players to participate in the upcoming squash event.

“The PSF will go ahead with the tournament as scheduled and its dates would not be changed despite withdrawal of some top players. We have, however, guaranteed strict security to the players,” the official asserted.