ISLAMABAD: After refusal of Indian visas for the Pakistani players, Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has approached the world squash bodies to look into the matter and ensure participation of Pakistan players in the World Junior Championship 2018 or cancel this event as India is doing injustice to Pakistan who are the defending champions.

World Junior Squash Individual & Team Championship is scheduled to be played in Chennai, India from July 18-23. Pakistan squash contingent comprising six players and three officials were sure to participate in the event for which rigorous training is in progress since the past few months, but a few days ago they were abruptly denied the Indian visas.

Promising juniors Abbas Zaib, Haris Qasim, Ozhair Rasheed, Farhan Hashmi, Aziz Shoukat and Asadullah were nominated by PSF to participate in the event.

Pakistan is the defending champions as in 2016 the Pakistani Juniors won the championship after defeating the strong Egyptian team 2-1 in Poland.

Speaking to Dawn, Secretary PSF Tahir Sultan said that it is strange and deplorable that India has refused visas to the defending champions.

“PSF has requested the WSF to ensure participation of Pakistani players or cancel the event. “How strange is this..India wants to hold championship without major stake holders — the defending champions. This is something which is highly against the spirit of sports,” he said and added that there should be no politics in sports.

It is relevant to note here that last year too, Indian High Commission refused to grant visas to four-member Pakistani squash team, thus depriving them of participation at the Asian Senior Individual Championship.

The World Junior Squash Championships are conducted by World Squash Federation (WSF) for players aged 19 and below.

“This [refusal of visas] is totally against the ethics of sports. We believe that sportsmen help in strengthening relations amongst nations,” read a PSF statement.

It said that it was the requirement of Indian organizers that Pakistan should apply for visa early so that processing could be done in time. Therefore, PSF had applied for Indian visa well in advance (in April ) although the visa processing time for India as per the official website of High Commission of India is 35 days. Timely intimation of visa processing was also forwarded to WSF, ASF and organizers so that required assistance could be ensured.

“On 20th June, 2018 High Commission of India in Islamabad has returned all passports of Pakistan contingent and refused visas to our contingent.” “Passports were returned by Indian High Commission stating that they are not in a position to issue visas to Pakistan contingent and no substantial reason was mentioned,” the statement said. “The PSF has always ensured that every foreign player, wishing to participate in squash events, must be given preference in visa process. Similarly, PSF has always helped Indian players also, in getting the visas like Miss Sachika Ingale and her mother who were not only given preference in visa process but were always given VIP treatment during their stay in Pakistan.”

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2018