LAHORE: Seven teams will compete in the inaugural FMC Squash Premier League to be held at the Punjab Squash Association (PSA) Complex here from April 17 to 24.

A grand launching ceremony was held at a local hotel on Thursday, which was attended among others by squash legends Jahangir Khan and Gogi Ala­uddin, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, PSA president Dr Nadeem Mukhtar and secretary Sheraz Saleem.

Provincial Minister for Sports Jahangir Khanzada was the chief guest on the occasion.

Unfolding the details of the league, Sheraz said the names of the teams are: Servis Stars, FMC Strikers, Diamond Paints Lions, Treet Falcons, Trust Marwicks, GNC Nicks and Matrix Tigers.

Each team of the league comprises seven players, including one female; means overall, 49 players will be in action at the cash-rich league. Six male contestants will be taken from the age categories of U-11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 plus there will be a senior.

“Handsome cash prizes will be awarded to the winners [in the league],” Sheraz said.”It will be held after every three months.

The PSA secretary said the event with the passage of time would be made an international affair to make it more competitive.

“This league is the first step towards promoting squash in the country and we will organise it in each quarter of the year to boost our players, physically, mentally and financially,” he said.

“Gradually, we will make this league an international event featuring a significant number of foreign players, a move that will add to the quality of action in the league.”

Speaking on the occasion, Jahangir Khan said holding such a grand league was his dream, which now was coming true due to the PSA who had “taken a grand step towards a big cause”.

“I am confident that the holding such league of international standard will enable us to revive Pakistan squash; the move will also help the country regain the glory in this sport,” added Jahangir who won a record ten British Open titles besides claiming six World Open crowns during an iconic squash career.

Meanwhile, Shaharyar hoped the step of staging the league would help in stamping Pakistan’s supremacy in the world of squash once again.

“We have witnessed the great era of Hashim Khan, then Jahangir and Jansher Khan, when our squash was on top. Now [amid Pakistan’s decline in squash] there is a dire need to take pragmatic steps, like this league, to restore our pride in the sport,” the PCB chief said.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2017