The situation is even more humiliating keeping in mind that we had once been a great squash power. - File photo

Given that squash in Pakistan has been on a decline for the past 14 years or so, there’s little hope from any of our top players to win international tournaments or regaining the prestigious British Open, World Open or other major titles.

The situation is even more humiliating keeping in mind that we had once been a great squash power, courtesy the two legendary Khans—Jahangir and Jansher—who together won the British Open 16 times and World Open 14 times.

Jahangir holds the record of 10 successive victories in the British Open and has won the World Open six times. Jansher also performed a record-breaking feat in the World Open by remaining victorious on no less than eight occasions while winning the British Open six times. They also won many other international tournaments in the ’80s and proved to be worthy successors of the legendary Hashim Khan, who won the British open in 1951 and went on to establish a new seven-win record.

Hashim Khan’s victory gave a great boost to the game in Pakistan. He was followed by his younger brother Azam Khan, Jahangir’s illustrious father late Roshan Khan, late Mohibullah Khan senior and Qamar Zaman. Winners of the British Open were called as the unofficial world champions before the World Open began in 1975. In a way Pakistan, in all, had won 30 British Open titles which is a record no other nation can boast of. There is also a long list of our other outstanding performers who used to reach the semifinals of British and World Opens and were finalists of many other major tournaments. A good number of them emerged victorious.

The nation hailed their squash heroes and even today they are admired for their incomparable achievements but they are now part of the history. Pakistan’s golden squash era ended after Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan retired. Since then, the new generation of players has failed to win any foreign tournament.

Squash’s basic requirements are three S: stamina, speed and strokes. But the present lot begins the play with strokes without acquiring top physical fitness to build the stamina needed to face tough challenges. If one has the stamina, one can focus on speed and then eventually the strokes. It seems as if our leading players—Aamir Atlas Khan, Farhan Mahboob, Yasir Butt, Nasir Iqbal, Danish Atlas, Waqas Mahboob, Waqar Mahboob, Farhan Zaman and others—lack the first two requirements (stamina and speed) to make any impact on international squash. The players do get the required incentive and encouragement from the Pakistan Squash Federation but they appear to be more interested in participating in the PSA-held tournament to better their world ranking. As a result, they usually suffer defeat in first or second round in major international tournaments and, for this, their coaches are equally responsible.

The dismal ranking says it all: at the end of 2011 Aamir Atlas Khan who competed in 12 PSA championships stands at 26, followed by Farhan Mahboob, who took part in 11 tournaments and is at 58, while Yasir Butt from eight championships is at 72 and Danish Atlas at 87. None of our players are among the top 20 which is a reflection on their poor performance at global level.

Given the scenario, there is an urgent need of a foreign coach, preferably from Egypt, which has emerged as one of the leading nations in squash. The Egyptian Squash Federation has taken the game to the grassroot level as well to educational institutions, and had launched a talent hunt programme for grooming the youth. The Pakistan Squash Federation should negotiate with the Egyptian federation for a five-match series in Egypt, followed by a tour in Pakistan. The series, if it materialises, would certainly help in assessing the capabilities of our players. The selection of touring squad for camp training should be held at the five provincial centres to pick talented youth with an eye on the future. Of the five-member team, four should be teenagers not more than 15 years old and one top senior player. The officials must have knowledge of the game as well as of coaching. Hopefully, such attempts will go a long way in bettering our world ranking in the near future.