KARACHI: International squash community and former national players lamented the recent overage conflict in Pakistan squash that deprived lots of players of participation in the prestigious US Junior Open and British Junior Open.
Pakistan Squash Federation decided to withdraw all 44 players from the US Junior and BJO protesting against US Squash for declaring a number of Pakistani players overage while the international community urges PSF to put an end to overage issue in the country’s squash.
This skirmish between PSF and US Squash has triggered debates on social media with local and international squash community sharing their views both in favor and against PSF and local players who were denied participation just because of few overage players.
Yehia Omar from Egypt said that it is sad state that Pakistani squash has reached as a result of pure incompetence and denial. Stuart Swinden said that “they [the US Squash] should have gone one step further and not let them [Pakistani players] in the competition. Moving them age groups is arguably a weak response to blatant cheating”.
Sean Brockman said that “they were using falsified documents to enter kids in lower age categories and when called out on it and asked to prove their ages, they pulled the whole team from the competition to avoid the more in-depth investigation. And now hiding behind claims of discrimination. I feel sorry for the kids being indoctrinated into that kind of ‘win at all costs’ mindset at a national level”. Liam Johnston said that “this is not about punishing the kids, although many would know they are in the wrong age category. This should be about the Squash Federation knowingly submitting players into age categories they don’t qualify for, they are enabled by false documentation and it has to stop. If the Federation will not clean up their act, the only possible course of action is to ban players”.
A former national player said that “I’m deeply disappointed and embarrassed by how the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) has handled the age-fraud crisis in our sport. This is not a new problem — for years there have been accusations of over-age players being sent abroad, something that legendary champions like Jahangir Khan raised long ago, urging for proper age scrutiny and fairness”.
But, he added, instead of fixing the issue, the federation chose “politics, cronyism, and weak internal checks over integrity and fair play” while “Players who remain because of connections and influence continue to be selected with questionable documentation, while our true potential and real talent are ignored”.
He said that what happened with Pakistani players being declared over-age by international squash authorities is not an accident as it is the direct result of “incompetence, favoritism, and silence inside the Pakistan Squash Federation”. For years, he added, coaches, selectors, and officials have protected their own interests and everyone knows the truth that this is not about players but age scrutiny was ignored, connections mattered more than merit, sons of officials and influential coaches were pushed forward, while honest talent was sidelined.
“A system that sacrificed Pakistan’s reputation for personal gain. And now, Pakistan stands humiliated on the international stage — and it’s entirely your fault. The world laughs at us, and shame is ours,” said the former player.
Lorra Ine said that “Nauman Khan, Yahya, Rayyan should be U-19 and Umair should be out of U-19. They have jumped two age categories down. Very un-sportsmanship like. WSF and ASF and ESF should remove their cheated points totally. Let them start from scratch”. Christopher Cleland said that “It’s not a new problem. I once witnessed this at a top junior Championship 20 years ago with Egyptian juniors”.
Mohamed Reda said that “It’s something that has been happening since ages and now I think it getting worse because everyone wants to win at all cost even if they will play u-11 and they are 14. I hope Pakistan squash federation puts an end to this. Pakistan has so much talent and they can produce so many good players they don’t need to cheat. Pakistan always had great coaches and players”. Michael Yee said “Maybe dope testing would be better to weed out cheating athletes”.
