It didn't surprise many when Pakistan's two top squash players, Aamir Atlas Khan and Farhan Mahboob, were relegated in the July world rankings. Since the Pakistan Squash Association (PSA) hadn't included four international ranking tournaments, including the Pakistan Open, in its 2009 annual calendar for security reasons, the issue of relegation was likely to surface.
The PSA decision was a great setback to squash players and to the lovers of the game. Pakistani players used to have the home advantage when these events were organised here and the four international tournaments helped better their world rakings. Yes, the performance of our leading players remained wanting in matches played abroad. But now it would be a huge task for our players to improve their world rankings in the remaining six months of the current season from July to December.
The country's top player Aamir Atlas (the son of former international player Atlas Khan, who is the elder brother of eight-time World Open record-holder Jansher Khan) started the 2009 season with his career best ranking at 15. But at the end of the first half of the season (Jan to June) he was relegated to number 19.
No different is the case with Farhan Mahboob who has also been relegated from number 16 to 18. But as far as the seasoned campaigner Mansoor Zaman's relegation (32 to 43) is concerned, it seems to be of no importance. He has been playing international squash for more than a decade and without winning a major title outside the country. His ranking was 11 about six years ago. But the left-handed Mansoor (the son of Qamar Zaman, a former British Open champion and vice-president of the Pakistan Squash Federation for a considerably long period of time) is past his prime. Mansoor should compete in international events to better his world ranking by seeking his own sponsorship because further spending by the PSF on his tours would be a waste of public money.
However, the immensely promising Yasir Butt, who gave an amazing performance by reaching the final of the 2004 Islamabad World Junior (Under-19) Championship after a lapse of 20 years and lost to Egyptian Ramy Ashour (currently world number 3) also fared badly in the ranking. He's at number 61, six steps down from 55.
After his early wins Yasir had to face a very challenging task of overcoming seasoned campaigners Mansoor and his cousin Shahid Zaman. The PSF could not ignore the Zaman brothers in funding their participation in foreign tournaments on the basis of their world rankings. Like many talented youngsters, who had suffered at the hands of the Peshawar-based pressure groups, Yasir Butt too became a victim of such pressure tactics. But he still has time to commit himself professionally for more extensive training. Time is running out for Yasir.
According to the PSA programme, the six major tournaments to be contested in the current season are the Hong Kong Open, the Qatar Open, the British Open, the Saudi Arabian Open and the African Open. They are super series events and almost all leading players of the world will compete in them.
The PSF should allow Aamir, Farhan and Yasir Butt to take part in all the major events by funding their tours, but with a clear warning that next year's funding would depend on their performances in 2009.
