ISLAMABAD, April 27: Former world champion Jansher Khan said on Wednesday that the ugly incident involving Farhan Mahboob and coach Rehmat Khan showed where Pakistan squash was heading. “The squash federation reacted quickly to punish Farhan ordering him to leave the camp but the coach too should have been reprimanded,” Jansher told Dawn on phone from Peshawar.

“It is unfortunate that the players are being made to suffer by the federation which is using all sorts of pressure tactics to keep them in check.”

Farhan and Rehmat were involved in a shouting match at the camp in Islamabad after the coach ordered the player, an ex- jr Asian champion, to do a round of running to which he did not agree.

Both reportedly used foul language and the situation could have gone from bad to worse if those around had not interfered.

“I think it is time that the PSF fired Rehmat as well as senior coach Jamshed Gul for they are both wasting time and have failed to deliver.”

Jansher also expressed surprise over squash secretary Zulfiqar Ahmed’s views that the incident involving Farhan and Rehmat was “nothing serious.”

“I cannot help but laugh over Zulfiqar’s comments for both the coach and the player were involved in a scuffle; I wonder what could be more serious than this.”

“It were incidents like these that are bad publicity for Pakistan squash, which in my opinion is dead,” said Jansher. “Our level in the sport today is far lower than India’s.”

“All the time the PSF is talking about junior players, but our target should be the seniors.” He pointed out that the federation did not want his services as a coach because he was dangerously honest.

“I have offered to coach the players by setting up camps in Peshawar, Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi but the PSF does not seem bothered.”