KARACHI: In spite of being ranked lowly at 77th spot in the world circuit, Pakistani squash player Farhan Mehboob is confident of making to the elite World Top 20 list if he is given the opportunity.
23-year-old Mehboob, who reached career best rankings at No 16 in May 2009, believes that his game has not in any way declined but the reason for his low ranking is lack of exposure in international tournaments.
He believes that in order to lift or even to maintain one’s rankings, a player must regularly appear in international tournaments. But it is very expensive to feature in tournaments abroad without being sponsored, Mehboob said while talking to PPI.
The left-hander, who recently helped Pakistan clinch the Asian Squash Team Championship title in Kuwait, defeated top international players Saurav Ghausal (World No26), Mohammad Nafiizwan Adnan (World No 33) and Max Lee (World No 36) in the tournament.
“If I can beat these players, then it means I am a better player than them. The difference between us is that they regularly appear in international tournaments but I don’t because I cannot afford it and nobody is sponsoring me,” he lamented.
“But now I am in good form and looking forward to participate in as many international tournaments as I can which will help me lift my international ranking,” the Peshawar-based player added.
However, Mehboob said that he needs the help of the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) to participate in international tournaments.
“Our bread and butter are nothing but playing for the country and there are no other means of income. We cannot participate in tournaments abroad on our own. We need to be sponsored and it is the work of the federation to sponsor players.”
