The recently concluded nine-nation World Squash Cup was held after a lapse of 12 years, however Pakistan’s non-participation in the tournament deprived our players of gaining exposure by playing against the world’s top ranked players.

Perhaps the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) failed to understand the significance and importance of this international event and acted rather hastily on grounds that Pakistan stood no chance of winning so there was no reason to participate.

The mixed tournament was introduced in 1996 by the World Squash Federation to attract a bigger audience and promote the game internationally.

After the retirement of the two great Khans — Jahangir and Jansher — indeed there was little or no chance for Pakistan to win the 1998 second Bi-Annual Cup but the PSF nevertheless sent the team for the tournament with the sole objective that Pakistan, who once ruled the squash world, should at least  be represented. The team included Zarak Jahan Khan, Amjad Khan and Bushra Haider. Understandably, Pakistan gave no notable performance and in the final England defeated the 1996 World Cup winners Australia.

Since the World Cup carried no cash prize, the top ranking players of the world showed little interest and there was no tournament for over a decade. However, much credit for the revival of the mixed World Cup should be given to N. Ramachandran, the WSF’s President who succeeded in securing the sponsorship for holding the biannual tournament three times in a row in Chennai in 2010, 2012 and 2015. The third edition of the cup carried a cash prize and attracted the top ten men of world ranking as well as an equal number of world ranking women players.

Top seeded Egypt emerged as new champions snatching the cup from second seed title holders England with a 2-0 victory in the final. Ramy Ashour took just 37 minutes to beat James Willstrop 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 and Egypt was one up. Egyptian Raneem El Weleily ranked 12th beat England’s Jenny Duncalf by11-8, 7-11, 11-9, 11-1. Egypt emerged victorious while the third match between Karim Darwish and Tom Richard could not be played. In the play-off Australia registered a 2-1 victory over Malaysia to secure the third position.

Among the top ranking men competing in the fascinating format were Egyptians Ramy Ashour and Karim Darwish, England’s James Willstrop and Peter Barker while among the top women were Malaysian world number one Nicol David and England’s world no two Jenny Duncalf.

Pool A consisted of top seeded Egypt, France, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and South Africa while Pool B comprised England, Australia, India and Mexico. Two top teams from each pool qualified for the semifinals. Egypt outplayed Australia by 3-0 to reach the final where they faced England who struggled for a 2-1 victory against Malaysia.

It is interesting to note that Sri Lanka and Mexico participated with little chance in the championship whereas Pakistan skipped the event. Since the World Cup was held in Indian port city of Chennai, the tour would not have been expensive either.

Pakistan’s two leading players are Aamir Atlas Khan and Farhan Mahboob, currently ranked no 30 and 32 respectively, while the country’s leading woman player is Maria Toor Pakay 18, hailing from Waziristan. Another player could have been picked based on his performance for making a four-member team. If Pakistan had  participated it would have been the tenth team and placed in one of the two pools.

Our top players would have played four pool matches including those against top ranking players in the World Cup. There is hardly an opportunity for them to play against top players in the PSA international tournaments otherwise as they are beaten in the first and second rounds. Again we wonder, what the policymakers were up to.