After almost 16 years, some foreign players have consented to participate in the International Squash Championship being held in Lahore next week.

Last time, the foreign players came to Lahore to compete in the World Open in 2002. Later, the security situation deteriorated in the country and many mega sports events allocated to Pakistan had to be shifted to other countries. The international squash body declared Islamabad as safe city a couple of years back to host international events and now Lahore as become the second one to hold the championship.

According to details shared by the Punjab Squash Association (PSA) with the media, 24 players of eight different countries have confirmed their participation. The number of foreign players is encouraging but it is also challenging for the Pakistani players to show their talent against them to win prizes. The foreign players are from England, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia and Egypt. It is a positive development to end the drought of the international squash in Lahore. Hopefully, other big cities of Pakistan like Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta will also get security clearance soon.

The PSA will hold back-to-back three international events, including one for women, for which the foreign players have shown their interest too. The men’s events are carrying a handsome cash prize of USD 20,000 each while for women, the prize amount is USD 5,000. The first-round matches will be played at the PSA’s courts, while from quarter-final stages all the matches will be held at a local hotel, where four-side glass court has been installed. It is portable so the PSA can use it in any city.

Like Pakistan senior cricket team, the junior one also disappointed the cricket fans by making an early exit from the Junior Asia Cup held in Bangladesh last week. Pakistan came back after losing the pool matches to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh while winning only one against the minnows, Hong Kong. No batsman could score a century as Pakistan could not even cross a total of 200 in any of three matches of the Asia Cup. Similarly, no bowler could show performance as Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-final. Interestingly, Afghanistan team made to the last four along with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Last year Pakistan played the final against Afghanistan, though, it lost shamefully by 185 runs as Afghanistan emerged as Asian champion to surprise everyone. Surprisingly, a team which had played the final only one year back went down tamely, which is raising serious questions over the future of the national cricket. The senior team will play two Test matches series, starting from Sunday (today) and three T20 matches. The critics have raised several questions about the selection of the team. However, hopefully, the players will try their best to restore their confidence after ignoring the sluggish performance in the Asia Cup.

After a three-day stay in Lahore, the ICC Trophy for the World Cup 2019 is being displayed in Islamabad. The ODI World Cup is being held in England next year. It has become a tradition of the ICC and other biggest sporting organizations of the world like IOC and FIFA to send the Olympic torch/trophy to the maximum members of the organisation to create hype among the masses well before the start of the event.

Lanky pacer Muhammad Irfan received the trophy from the ICC official and later it was landed at the Gaddafi Stadium for the media. It also took a round of the city on the bus of the tourism development corporation.

The national junior badminton championship is starting in Lahore from next week. Around 80 players from across the country will compete in it. The arrangements are being finalized to hold the event in a befitting manner.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2018