ISLAMABAD: A six-member Pakistan squad will leave for Egypt on Dec 10 to feature in the Men’s World Team Squash Championship, scheduled to be held in Cairo.

“The squad includes four players and two officials,” Aamir Nawaz,

secretary of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Group Captain, said on Wednesday.

“Nasir Iqbal, Farhan Zaman, Danish Atlas and Tayyab Aslam will represent the country at the Dec 12-18 event in the Egypt capital while ex-world champion Qamar Zaman will accompany them as team manager and Faheem Gul as coach,” the official added.

During the event, Aamir said, Qamar would convince world’s top players to play in various events in Pakistan, which the federation was planning to hold in future.

“Qamar will also request the Professional Squash Association (PSA) to hold over US$50,000 events in Pakistan,” Aamir added.

England, five others withdraw from World Team Squash over security; WSF criticises

He said Pakistan players (for the Cairo event) were undergoing intensive training at Islamabad’s Mushaf Squash Complex. “Our squad consists of the best players we have at present. They are highly talented and we are expecting some really good results from them.”

Meanwhile, the World Squash Federation (WSF) has strongly criticised six countries for “banding together” and withdrawing from its Men’s World Team Championship over security fears.

England, the defending champions, has joined five other countries — France, Germany, Finland, Canada and the US in pulling out of the event.

England Squash on Tuesday confirmed the decision on its website, saying independent advice had suggested the risk, following recent attacks around the world, was too high.

“Following the release of security plans for the event and subsequently a comprehensive report from independent security advisers, we have concluded that there is an inherent risk that has not been mitigated to an acceptable level,” England Squash chief executive Keir Worth said.

The WSF however described the reasons behind the decision to “their unease about travelling to participate” in the Cairo event.

WSF chief executive Andrew Shelley in a statement said: “This is both disappointing and a little difficult to understand as there has been no security threat there.”

He said a “full range of protection measures are in place” and this had been conveyed to the participating nations.

Shelley backed the decision to hold the event in Cairo, saying it is a city where it is “business as usual”.

Dismissing calls by countries opting not to participate, to reschedule the event in another safer venue, he said: “The championship is proceeding.”

According to the earlier schedule, 12th seeded Pakistan were placed in pool ‘A’ alongside hosts and firm favourites Egypt.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2015