ISLAMABAD, Feb 21: The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) on Saturday named Jamshed Gul as the senior coach with the added responsibility of Director Coaches and Referees.

The decision was taken at an executive committee meeting of the federation in Islamabad which was chaired by senior vice president Air Marshal Rashid Kaleem. Jamshed is likely to start work with the team in a week's time.

The meeting decided to keep faith in Rehmat Khan, the coach of the junior string with the World Junior Championship being the target set for him.

PSF secretary Wng. Cdr Sajid Waheed told Dawn that Qamar Zaman had been appointed as the manager of Pakistan's SAF Games squad which will be trained by Jamshed. Both the men's and women's teams which were approved by the house, had been announced earlier.

Mansoor Zaman, Shahid Zaman, Farrukh Zaman and Majid Khan form the men's squad while the women's team comprises Muqadas Ashraf, Maria Toor, Misbah Rani and Aliya Sarfraz.

As part of Pakistan's preparations for the World Junior Championship, a junior league has been planned on a reciprocal basis with Egypt. In this regard, six players will shortly be leaving to compete there.

It was decided that the trials for the championship would be organised soon after the SAF Games which conclude on April 7. Sixteen players, 10 under-19s and six under-17s will appear in the preliminary phase. The final trials will be held in July, Sajid said.

In June, top six home players will compete in the Singapore and Malaysian Junior Championships.

The executives also discussed the national and international calendar of events and asked the affiliated units to confirm holding the competitions they had earlier consented to stage.