KARACHI, Feb 21: Tournament of Champions, the largest professional squash event in North America, began in New York on Saturday without a single Pakistani taking part in the competition for the third consecutive year , as they are reportedly being refused visas by US authorities following 9/11 incidents.

The fact that 32-man draw of the US$75,000 tournament does not include a single Pakistani, is in stark contrast to the past when Pakistanis used to be hot favourite to win the title.

It is not that no Pakistani player is ranked high enough to be included in the draw but it is all because of United States authorities, who have been rejecting visas even to the best Pakistani players since 9-11 attacks in New York and Washington.

Pakistan's top player Mansoor Zaman was rejected a US visa in 2001 and also in 2002 and was told that he could go to the United States because he had previously paid a few visits to Middle Eastern countries.

Other Pakistani players were also declined visas which was why they did not even bother to apply for visas last season even though the US circuit have grown into a lucrative destination with tournaments offering more than US$250,000 in prize money.

"It's not that we don't want to go and play in the US. Playing squash is what we do to earn our bread and butter but we have been stopped from earning our living because of rigid attitude of US visa authorities," decried a leading Pakistani player who requested anonimity.

Players criticized Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) and Professional Squash Association (PSA) - the players' body that runs the international circuit - for not doing enough to resolve the issue.

"We think PSF officials could have helped us get our visas issued but they did little. Similarly, PSA which is there to look after us also sat like a silent spectator without doing much for us," complained the player who in spite of being a regular on the World Tour hasn't played on any tournament on the North American circuit since 9-11 incidents in the United States.

While Pakistani players sit at home waiting for the next international tournament, almost all of the other leading professionals on the World Squash Tour are battling for top honours in the Tournament of Champions being played at the Grand Central terminal of New York City.

A four-walled glass court weighing 20,000 pounds as well as stadium with seating capacity for 500 spectators have been constructed in Grand Central Terminal earlier this week.

Four-time title-holder Jonathon Power of Canada has been placed in the top quarter of the championship draw setting up a potential second round match-up against top seed and world number one Thierry Lincou.

Also in Lincou's half of the draw is defending champion and third seed Peter Nicol, who just two weeks ago had to withdraw from the British National Championships because of exhaustion.

The potential Lincou-Power match-up would offer perennial New York fan favourite Power the opportunity to avenge his surprising semifinal loss in last year's tournament to Lincou, who was seeded number six at the time and had never before beaten Power.

Lincou plays Australian Mike Corren in the first round, while Power will play a qualifier.-PPI