ISLAMABAD: The Indian High Commission on Monday refused to grant visas to four Pakistani squash players, thus depriving them of participation at the Asian Senior Individual Championship, scheduled to begin in India on Wednesday.

The four-member Pakistan team comprising Farhan Mehboob, Farhan Zaman, Tayyab Aslam and Waqar Mehboob were supposed to participate in the mega regional event. However, India refused to grant them visas.

“Today, the Indian High Commission handed back passports to our players,” said Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) secretary Tahir Sultan.

He added Pakistan had applied for visas well on time on March 17, but Indian authorities used delaying tactics in issuance of visas.

“After returning the passports to us, they (Indian High Commission) contacted us in the evening and asked us to submit the passports again for issuance of visas but we have now decided not to apply again,” the secretary said and added the PSF would take up the issue with the Asian Squash Federation and Professional Squash Association.

“There should be no politic in sports. This refusal is unacceptable. It was not India’s own event, rather it was Asian Senior Individual Championship,” the secretary said.

He said Pakistani players were undergoing tough training for the event but India’s anti-sport approach deprived them of participation.

Former world champion Jansher Khan lambasted India and said Pakistan should take up this issue with the world squash body as it was injustice with its players.

“Sports provide platforms for healthy activities and promote friendships among nations but unfortunately India does not believe in it,” he said.

He urged the Pakistani players who were not given visas to remain focussed and did not get distracted.

“I fail to understand what India wants to achieve by refusing visas to our players, that too in the game of squash where Pakistan ruled for decades,” the former champion said.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2017