ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is set to host first major international Professional Squash Association event in the UAE within the next three months, mainly to save the sport from further damage since the country has failed to host any major event since 2009 owing to lack of participation of foreign players.
According to a senior PSF official, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was already signed between Pakistan and UAE squash federations for hosting the event in the UAE, Dawn has learnt.
“The move is aimed at hosting the PSA tournaments in the UAE where Pakistan players will get more chance to show their talent,” said the official while requesting anonymity.
“The game’s professional body is not willing to consider Pakistan as venue for international squash events due to the security concerns of foreign teams and players.”
Pakistan is already playing its cricket series on neutral venues, mainly because of the refusal of international teams to tour Pakistan after the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by a bunch of terrorists in Lahore in March 2009.
The PSA also blocked the allocation of ranking tournaments to Pakistan after the Sri Lankan team attack and Pakistani squash players have suffered a lot by not getting much exposure internationally.
“It was not just ranking of the players which was being affected but a large number of young players have failed to benefit from the events which have been shifted from here or allocated to other countries,” the official informed.
It is heartening, however, that, countries like Egypt, France and Malaysia have already given a positive nod to Pakistan’s move of holding squash events on neutral venues and assured their participation in any event which will be hosted by Pakistan in the UAE.
Asked to comment on the financial benefits that this latest move could earn for the PSF, the official said: “We are positive to generate a better revenue from hosting the events in the UAE because we will be eyeing both the local companies for sponsorship of events as well as the multinationals based in the UAE.”
The official disclosed that a comprehensive marketing strategy was already being prepared for hosting the events in the UAE and how it will become financially viable for the PSF. “The modalities have been finalised and hopefully the PSF will be hosting a PSA event as well as the national championship in the UAE within the next three months,” claimed the official.