ISLAMABAD, July 16: Pakistan Squash Federation’s plans of having British-born Carla Khan play for them in the Commonwealth Games opening this month have run into problems.

Just days after the PSF announced that Carla would be representing Pakistan at the July 25 to Aug 4 Games in Manchester as she possessed a Pakistani passport, the event organisers have again expressed their reservations.

The organisers have written to the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) that since Carla, ranked No 46 in the world, has been living in England for the “past few years”, she would not be eligible to compete in the Games. “The information we have received is third hand and may not be true but this is just to make you aware that this might create problems,” the organisers said.

This comes as a blow to the squash managers who came to know of this development only on Tuesday afternoon and now have a seemingly difficult task of keeping Carla, the sole women’s representative, on the team.

The PSF had initially not named any woman player on the squad but on the insistence of the World Squash Federation (WSF) they picked Carla, who is a professional in England, to join a team of four male players - Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman, Shamsul Islam and Farrukh Zaman. Carla was to play in the singles and mixed doubles event.

Pakistan squash secretary Sqd. Ldr. Sajid Waheed told Dawn that he would take up the matter with the organisers and the WSF. “As far as we are concerned Carla is a Pakistani, and we are going to fight to have her included.”

Carla, an exciting player, was in Pakistan earlier this month to feature in the PC Bhurban National Women’s Championship, an event she won, although it lacked strong opposition.

Carla has also been drafted into the team for this September’s Asian Games in Pusan, a late decision that came only last week after the PSF were able to convince the POA and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) of her medal-winning potential.

She is said to be sure bet to take a silver and with a bit of luck could also land gold, a point that was underlined by Sajid and well understood by a meeting of the POA that discussed the shape and size of the Asiad contingent in Lahore last week.

Carla will also be featuring in the SAF Games which Islamabad host next year.