ISLAMABAD: National squash star Farhan Mehboob has blamed a ‘lobby’ in the Pakistan Squash Federation which, he claims, is deliberately causing damage to his career due to his family ties with former player Jansher Khan.

Farhan, ranked 63rd in the world, is Jansher’s nephew and believes that’s the reason why the PSF is ‘targeting’ him even after proving his dominance as the best in the country by winning the CAS Squash Championship and President Cup in November 2016 and January 2017, respectively.

“I am being targeted because I am the nephew of the great Jansher Khan, a lobby, which doesn’t like him is targeting me as well,” the 29-year-old told Dawn.

Farhan, despite his feats, is not ranked the best in the country somehow with Israr Ahmed being the Pakistan No. 1 but 134th in the world. Farhan believed he deserved the prestigious national crown more than anyone else.

“ I am the number one Pakistani player just because of my own efforts, if anyone has any doubts, I openly challenge all Pakistani players. But the federation, according to it’s own calculation based on national participation declared Israr as the top national player,” he said.

Farhan was ignored for the World Team Championship held in Marseille, France in December last year following his failure to attend the trials ahead of the event. The Pakistan team finished 19th in the competition.

“My name was not included in the team, because due to some reasons I did not participate in trials — but being a long serving number one, I did not need to participate in the trials,” he said.

Farhan claimed he could defeat all players being trained at the PSF academies and that the facility has failed to produce competent players despite spending millions of rupees. “The country’s squash is not moving towards the right direction,” he said.

Similar statements have been made by Farhan’s uncle Jansher earlier.

The Peshawar-born, however, was reluctant to reveal names of people who he claimed were against his progress as a player.

“ I don’t want to name anyone but there is definitely a lobby, who, due to their disliking for Jansher, is targeting me,” he said.

Despite all the criticism, Farhan was full of praise for Air Chief Marshall Sohail Aman, who is also PSF president, for taking steps for the promotion of the squash.

He said that Aman is making all out efforts, but the ‘lobby’ is tactfully discouraging ranked players.

“I wish to have a meeting with the president to explain all the reasons behind the dismal performances of squash players,” he said.

Farhan said that he could not perform well in the recently held Pakistan Open because of fitness issues but is optimistic to win all upcoming international events, which Pakistan is to host, provided, he is given non-discriminatory treatment by the federation.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2018