KARACHI: The failure of Pakistan Squash Federation to resolve decades old issue of overage players has resulted in a humiliation for the country as World Squash Federation, US Squash, and England Squash have jointly declared a number of Pakistani players overage for the upcoming US Junior Open and British Junior Open.
It has been learnt that the US Squash received complaints from participants (and their parents) of the US Junior Open about the ages of Pakistani players, who entered in this prestigious event.
After due deliberations, the US Squash has devised a policy for the players from Pakistan competing in this year’s US Junior Open and the said policy has been endorsed by the World Squash Federation, European Squash Federation and Pan Am Squash.
The application of the policy resulted in the change of age categories of Pakistani players in the US Junior Open.
According to details, Raheel Victor has been moved from under-11 to under-13, M Ali Raja from under-13 to under-15, Nauman Khan from under-15 to under-17, Ahmad Rayyan Khan from under-15 to under-17, Azan Ali Khan from under-17 to under-19, Muhammad Umair Arif from under-17 to under-19, Ubaid Allah from under-17 to under-19, and Mahnoor Ali has been moved from under-13 to under-15 category while Anas Ali Khan has withdrawn.
It is to be noted that Pakistan’s 24 players sent their entries to play the U.S. Junior Open Squash Championships that is to be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from December 20-23.
“We believe this approach best protects the fairness and integrity of the event while ensuring a clear and equitable competitive environment for all participants. It also allows players whose age documentation is uncertain to compete without resorting to medical age-testing methods, which are not endorsed by international sport governing bodies, including the World Squash Federation,” stated the US Squash.
“We also recognize that this is an ongoing issue that will require continued monitoring and management across all international competitions, and we are committed to doing so to ensure a fair and balanced playing field for all junior athletes.
A source while talking to this scribe revealed that the US Squash authorities after receiving complaints asked for the birth certificates from Pakistani players but it was found that they have multiple birth certificates with different birth dates.
“Then the US Squash decided that Pakistani players will compete in international events in the same age categories they are competing in the categories domestically inside Pakistan,” said the source.
The source revealed that Sindh Squash Association’s top player Raheel’s year of birth is 2011 in one certificate and in another it’s 2016 while he entered to play in the under-11 category in the US Junioir Open though he should be competing in under-15 category.
“Similarly, Mahnoor is being celebrated in Pakistan as under-13 player who is creating big upsets and winning international events while in fact she is supposed to compete in under-15 category,” said the source.
Also, he added, Nauman Khan played the final of under-13 category in 2023 and competed in under-15 category in 2024 while he entered in the under-15 category this year and also entered in the same under-15 category in the 2026 BJO.
“The US officials were surprised how come a player is competing in the same age category for three years. Pakistan Squash Federation’s failure prompted international bodies to take final decision against overage Pakistani players,” said the source.
