Senior circuit appears to be a far cry for Pakistan squash

ISLAMABAD: There is something seriously wrong with coaching and technical management of the Pakistan squash that has not been able to match the best around, especially in comparison with the trend unleashed by the Egyptians in recent times.

The latest example in this regard is that of 16-year old sensation Mohamed Zakaria, who has already started making waves in the senior circuit. Despite losing the thrilling World Junior Squash final against Hamza Khan, Zakaria did not look back and won back-to-back international circuit events -- the latest being The Northern Joe Cup 2023 in Manchester.

Unseeded Zakaria achieved the title in presence of three leading Pakistanis who were not only senior in experience but were also having a better reputation at senior circuit. Hamza Khan, Noor Zaman and Amaad Fareed left no impact on the event as low as $ nine thousand dollars’ prize money. Hamza was beaten in the first round, Amaad in the second round and Noor in the quarter-finals. But there was no one stopping Zakaria from winning the title, his second in a row.

Only a month back the Egyptian teenager won his first senior circuit title -- LA Open -- and did not content with that, having his second in a month time in presence of even seeded Pakistanis and others. Zakaria’s powerful surge in the senior circuit must be an eye opener to those having some serious misconception within the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), thinking that things are moving in the right direction which has been the slogan for the last so many years.

Winning an individual junior world title following a lapse of 37 years indeed is a creditable thing-but that only shows there is no dearth of talent at junior level; what lacks is coaching and technical management where the country lacks. Pakistan squash has not moved with the required international pace and requirements in the recent past. Neither the best of players are fit enough to survive back-to-back five setters nor technically they are so sound that they could manage victories outside the country in a low grade event without any real hassle.

The PSF officials have been seen consulting as what should be done and as what has gone wrong but they never seem ready to accept that those handling the coaching are not equipped with the modern day requirements.

Almost four years back when the same question was put by The News to Marvin Shorbagy the then world No 1, he blamed Pakistanis for playing slow squash which he said would take them nowhere. What he meant was that Pakistanis are not realizing the requirements of modern-day squash which is to get extremely fit to meet the ball at proper time using speed and reflexes in a most accurate way.

Gone are the days when games like hockey and squash were so slow that players usually were only required to play the best conventional game. The modern day squash has gone so fast and technically sound that only those having the proper knowledge could well help players make the difference.

Sadly, in Pakistan sports (squash and hockey) authorities and officials prefer to stick with the unrealistic hope. These authorities usually boost winning the junior events, knowing little that it is the senior circuit that actually makes a real impact internationally. Junior circuit is only meant to spot future talent so that the grooming process could begin. The last four to five years of misadventures carried out by the raw handlers in Pakistan squash has already wreaking havoc as a result, now there is just a single local player left among the top hundred PSA Ranking list and even he (Asim Khan) is not capable of playing five tough games as he got blatantly exposed in the Asian Games held recently.

Air Cdr (r) Aamir Nawaz, secretary PSF who was questioned as to why there has been no progress of players at the senior circuit or was there any coaching or technical management flaws, he admitted experiencing on-court technical management.