KARACHI, 19 February 2005 — Six-time champions Pakistan are hoping to reach the semifinals of the World Men’s Team Squash Championships for the first time in almost 10 years when they host the biennial tournament in Islamabad later this year.
Pakistan are likely to host a total of 33 nations in the 2005 edition of the World Team Championships to be held at the Mushaf Squash Complex from Dec. 8 to 14 and are expecting that the event would reverse the country’s dwindling squash fortunes. Pakistan, once the biggest power in the squash world seldom settled for anything less than the title in the past but their abysmal decline the last 10 years means they would be pleased even if their team reaches the last four stage in this year’s tournament.
“We are targeting a semifinal place in the World Team Championship this year,” says Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) Secretary Zulfiqar Ahmed.
“With the sort of players we presently have it might appear to be a difficult task but we feel it is achievable,” adds the PSF official. Pakistan who once held the record of most world team titles have failed to reach even the quarterfinals of the World Championships since making it to the final of the 1995 edition in Cairo.
They have mostly been finishing between nine to 10 positions since then. PSF officials who have already started to make arrangements for the successful hosting of the World Championships are aware that the event might be considered a flop at home if the local team fail to do well in the tournament.
That is the main reason why the federation is all set to finalize a comprehensive preparation program for the training of their top players for the World Championships. “We would make it sure that our players get the best possible training and international exposure ahead of the World Championships,” says Zulfiqar.
The Director of national coaches Jamshed Gul will be at the helm of the campaign to prepare a strong team for the event. He might also get assistance from national coach Rahmat Khan, presently in charge of the junior players. Zulfiqar said that Jamshed has been told that his target is to help Pakistan claim a semifinal berth in the World Championships.
Presently, Pakistan do not have good enough players who can guarantee them a place among the top four teams in the competition which would feature top sides like defending champions Australia, Egypt, England and France. However, national squash officials see as encouraging their colts’ excellent track record at the world junior circuit in recent years and the rise of Pakistan No. 1 Shahid Zaman to a career-high No. 18 in the world ranking earlier this month.
“We have experienced players like Shahid and (his elder cousin) Mansoor Zaman who together with a couple of younger players can form a balanced team,” says the PSF Secretary. History would also be on Pakistan’s side as the last time they hosted the World Championships their team won the title.
However, that was in 1993 when the then world champion Jansher Khan spearheaded the team that also included comeback star Jahangir Khan, Zarak Jahan Khan and Mir Zaman Gul.
