AT A time when the country is passing through financial crises and Islamabad is endeavouring to revive the economy, it seems rather illogical and unjustified for importing a portable four-glass court from Germany for the first ever Pakistan Open Squash in Lahore which starts on March 24.
Punjab’s capital Lahore has never staged a Pakistan Open in the country’s 54-year squash history. And even the international squash complex, under construction for a considerable long time, still remains incomplete. At the same time, the courts of Punjab Squash Association are not good for major international event. It only indicates the lack of interest on part of those who were at the helm of affairs of running squash in the biggest province of the country, despite having big resources.
The coming Pakistan Open is a super series event, carrying a total rich prize money of USD 105,000/- including USD 15,000/- as hotel bonus.
According to a recent announcement the imported Rs 7.76 million portable court will be installed at the Lahore’s Fortress stadium with seating arrangements for an expected 1200 spectators. The coming event has been sponsored by a bank and it will be jointly organised by the Pakistan Squash Federation and the Punjab Squash Association. Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir is the President of the PSF and Lt-Gen Zarrar Azim is the head of the PSA.
According to the PSF decision, the portable four glass court will help promote and develop the game in every part of the country for it will also be used for other international tournaments as well as for events in various parts of Pakistan.
Moreover, the portable court can also be given on hire if any country needs it. There had been similar move to import portable court or hire it for the Pakistan Open when the two great Khans - Jahangir and Jansher - ruled the world squash. But the idea was dropped as the portable court would be an unnecessary financial burden and would not be beneficial.
That was a right decision but after about ten years, when the game is at its lowest ebb in Pakistan, the PSF’s decision of spending the hard-armed foreign exchange took many impartial observers of the game by complete surprise.
It is a wrong assumption that the portable court will help promote the game in the country. The game is promoted through strong institutional organisations. It is on record that 13 of PSFs affiliated units have almost failed to promote the game in their respective jurisdictions. Merely holding one or two tournaments in a year by an affiliated unit is not considered real and positive service for the promotion and development of game. Promotion of the game needs a chair of tournaments at all levels as well systematic coaching in a planned way.
It is a hard pill to swallow that the organisational structure of squash in our country almost stands paralysed and unless they are fully activated, chances of promoting the game look bleak.
As far as renting the portable court to other countries, if they ask for it, is concerned, European countries, like England and other squash powers such as Australia, do not need to hire a court from Pakistan. In neighbouring countries like the Middle East squash has yet to gain ground. Moreover the spending of huge foreign exchange for the portable court from Germany also has cost more as we must have paid in euro.
On its part, the PSF is making efforts to groom a new breed of squash champions. And under a world-renowned coach Rehmat Khan, the outcome so far has been a productive one. The trainees gave encouraging performances in their first outing in the Scottish and the British Junior Opens. How they fare in the coming World Junior (under-19) championship at the Indian city of Chennai will be a keenly watched affair.
Therefore, the PSF’s decision of holding the first-ever Pakistan Open on portable court, perhaps, is not based on ground realities.
It would have been much better had the PSF extended financial support to the Punjab Squash Association for completion of its international complex within a year’s time for holding the 2003 Pakistan Open. There was no imperative needed to hold such a big prize money tournament and this year’s event of no more than USD40,000 could easily have been organised either at Islamabad, Peshawar or Karachi.
Amjad Khan, the 1997 Pakistan Open winner, is the only Pakistani player in the main draw of the 32-man contest as he has been given a wild card entry. It shows almost the total decline of the standard of Pakistani squash, a game in which Pakistan had achieved unprecedented honour and glory through legendary players such as Jahangir Khan and great Jansher Khan.
Our present lot of senior players, despite being in the international circuit for well over five years, so far, have also failed to make any sort of impact on the world stage. And there is no chance of any Pakistani even reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals of the tournament.
Let our players improve their world ranking by sending them to compete in the PSA approved tournaments in Europe and South Asia. To show their worth by winning a tournament outside the country. For well over five years no Pakistani had won a single major tournament outside country.
The money spent lavishly on the portable court as well staging a super series event could have been saved in helping to complete the international complex in Lahore as well for training-cum-competition of highly talented youngsters.
