Pakistan's squash authorities are mulling concrete plans to revive the sport in the country but have so far failed to garner the support of the world's greatest squash legend -- Jahangir Khan.
Jahangir, a record ten-time British Open champion and the most successful squash player in history, has declined an offer made by the Pakistan Squash federation (PSF) to join them, saying that he cannot work in a set-up where irrelevant people hold key posts.
However, another former world champion Jansher Khan, who will not be given any post, announced his support for the PSF.
'I was offered before Jansher but I declined,' Jahangir says.
'I cannot work under a set-up where officials with no background are at the helm of running squash affairs.'
A former president of the World Squash federation (WSF), Jahangir said he tried to work with the federation several times but failed to give his best.
'I have high regard for the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officials but they are not a suitable choice to run the game,' he said referring to the fact that Pakistan squash is run by PAF.
Jahangir was also highly critical of the way the federation's officials changed every three years after which a new body had to start from scratch.
'Every three years there is a new president and secretary and with no background of the game they find it difficult to manage the affairs,' said Jahangir.
'It would be difficult to regain our lost glory in squash given the current circumstances. The authority to run squash affairs should be given to the ones who have served the game in the past.'
The problem of inconsistency and lack of planning has been creating problems for Pakistan in almost every sport whether it is squash, hockey, or the unofficial National game, cricket. The concerned authorities and policy-makers should, at least now, when we see graphs declining in almost every sport, sit together with their pasts facing the other side and work for the greatest common benefit-the revival of sports in Pakistan. It is a shame that a legendary player who has headed an organisation as large as the WSF itself declines to work with the current setup only because of the lack of a well-planned organisational structure.
Pakistan recently won the team squash event of the Guangzhou Asian Games but Jahangir believes that it is not a big feat.
'It is good to win medals but considering our past achievements, it is not a big feat. The players should not get complacent after the gold.'
Pakistan was once the mostly successful nation in the squash world but after the exit of Jahangir and Jansher, it has been overtaken by countries like England, Egypt and Australia
