A confused PSA is toying with the future of its players by yet again changing the rules
THE Professional Squash Association (PSA), the official body of the professional squash players, has for the second time ever, changed its scoring system; from 15 points to 11 and a tie breaker. And for the second time, players of the game will have to amend their game in order to accommodate to the new changes. This of course is not something the contestants are looking forward to and already apprehensions have been voiced that the change will result in taking away the charm and beauty of the game.
The PSA first broke away with the traditional system of nine points about 15 years ago when it staged the 1989 World Open in Kuala Lumpur. The tournament was contested under the 15 points system. According to it, a player got points after playing the winning stroke while the loser got in hand after getting a point due to his opponent’s mistake. This system had replaced the traditional nine points scoring where points could be scored only by the server.
On the contrary, the World Squash Federation (WSF), the controlling body of the game in the world, has religiously adhered to the nine points scoring system since its inception in 1922. And in the 82 years since, the inaugural British Amateur Squash Championship, was staged, all the WSF sanctioned tournaments, including the World Team and Individual Championships as well as the World Junior (under-19) team and individual events were contested under the nine points system. That is until the WSF gave a few of its tournaments to the PSA to manage and thereafter, the professionals decided to do their own experimentation with the game while the WSF stuck to the nine point regime.
It is absolutely incredible that the game of squash is being contested under two different points systems. Perhaps squash is the only game right now to indulge in such funny play whereas international events of other world sports federations are being conducted under uniform scoring system.
Squash is a game of stamina, speed and strokes and that makes the game fascinating and exciting, filled with long rallies, punctuated with magnificent strokes. Under the 15 points system, it was observed that the points scoring beauty of the game has greatly diminished. The remaining charm of the game is sure to go down the drain following the introduction of the 11 point scoring system. The $100,000 Hong Kong Open, held in August-September this year, a super series event, was held according to the 11 point system. Its results immediately proved to be horrifying for a number of the players. World number one Peter Nicol of England, suffered shock defeat against Adrian Grant, 2-3 in the second round. There were a good number of upsets that resulted in France’s Thiery Linco in winning the first major tournament of his career at the age of 28 in Hong Kong.
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Open, carrying a cash prize of $25,000/- which ended in Peshawar on October 17, was also contested under the new scoring system. There again, competitors, including foreigners, looked dissatisfied to compete with the 11 points scoring. But they have no other alternative except to follow the PSA rules, a body whose members they all are.
The PSA Executive Board should have invited its members, numbering over 300, to discuss the change in the scoring system from 15 to 11 before taking this vital decision. Let the PSA call a meeting of its members to debate the issue and till such time not to hold its tournaments under the recently changed scoring system.
It is generally said and believed that those players, who had passed their best and are at the end of their international career, are behind the change in scoring system. WSF president Jahangir Khan, who was re-elected unopposed as president for a second term of two years on October 8, expressed his dissatisfaction over the change in the scoring system by the PSA. This coming from a man who is considered the greatest player the world of squash has ever seen. Apart from enjoying many world records, Jahangir also holds the record of winning the longest match ever contested. This he did when he defeated Egypt’s Gamal Awad in two hours and 47 minutes in the final of the 1983 Partick International Festival in Chichester, West Sussex in London. The first game lasted an hour 11 minutes.
The changes in rules by the PSA is definitely not good for squash and the WSF has taken note of it. The WSF will discuss its implications and its overall affects on the game. The world record holder of ten successive British Open titles, has taken note of this issue.
A confused PSA is toying with the future of its players by yet again changing the rules
