ISLAMABAD: The game of squash is at crossroads after it was learnt that the United States of America has launched its own international squash association called 'Professional Squash Tour' (PST) which will run parallel to the already existing world body, the Professional Squash Association (PSA).

The US-based PST's creation has already irked the PSA officials based in the United Kingdom who failed to award a single international ranking tournament to Pakistan's cash-strapped squash federation this year, citing security fears in the region

The PST, in a bid to lure the world's top players, has also announced a bumper financial incentive of $100,000 to the first professional who will sign up with the US-based outfit.

“Our offer is for the professional squash players and shows that we are ready to invest in them, allotting them more international tournaments which will be much more than PSA, and that we are here to ensure a better future of global squash,” the commissioner of PST Joseph M McManus told on Thursday.

“We can host around 100 tournaments in a year which is great for the players.”

Asked about the Pakistan squash players and the issues faced by the PSF, McManus said: “I am interested in promoting the sport and our doors are open for the Pakistani players. We always respect them because Pakistan has a rich squash history.”

He informed that Shahid Zaman, one of Pakistan's leading squash players, had recently clinched the Boston Open tournament while a college student Chaudhary Basit Ashfaque had lifted a college level championship in the US.

“The US squash is open to both, the residents of the United States and all others while the PSA has put a bar on its professional players from appearing in the US PST tournaments which is unfair,” he observed. “We have also filed a law suit against the PSA for its ban but hopefully things will be fine,” added McManus.

He said that several top ranking PSA players were in contact with the PST but, “I can't name any of them due to the confidentiality factor.”

The PSF officials are well aware of this recent development and is evaluating its pros and cons.

A senior Pakistan Federation official, when approached, added: “We are looking into the matter and are well aware about the differences prevailing between the two bodies — PSA and PST. We have not received anything in writing or any offer from the PST and the PSA while our global partners (international federations) like Egypt, Malaysia and few others have not made any policy shift in this regard.”

The PSF official asserted: “The PSF will only take the policy decision which will help Pakistan squash - both financially and in global perspective.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan's leading squash player Farhan Mehboob, ranked No.2 nationally, said: “I am not aware about anything like the PST but if the top ten players or top twenty drift away from PSA, then we will also have to rethink our status.”