The role of referees in decline of squash

KARACHI: The game of squash in Pakistan has suffered a lot owing to many transgressions and the referees are playing an equal role in this along with organisers and promoters.
A picture taken during a match between Amir Atlas Khan and Shahjahan Khan in the $25,000 Men’s Serena Hotels CAS International held at Mushaf Squash Complex, Islamabad, in October last year shows the referee of the match (Tahir Khanzada) talking on his cell phone while refereeing.
Interestingly, Tahir is Director Referee of Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF). “This is deplorable that a person who is Director Referee has done this and during such a big event,” said a local referee. “Recently an organiser awarded himself a wildcard in a PSA-15 event to be held this month in Lahore. This clearly shows where our squash is standing today,” he added.
The local referee said that they are not allowed to even talk to anybody present during refereeing, let alone talk on phone. “How could a person who is involved in this act train other referees of the country? He should have avoided taking any phone call during the match,” added the local referee.
The editorial of World Squash Federation’s Referees Review August 2013 edition cited ‘The Psychology of Officiating’ by Robert S Weinberg and Peggy A Richardson and stated: “It is extremely important to protect your [the referee] integrity both on and off the playing field.
“When refereeing (in The Three-Referee System) do not talk to spectators and sit and face front wall; don’t stand and stretch and yawn between games; do not chew gum; when you are not actually refereeing, do not sit too close to the 3 Referees who are officiating, and do not talk to them; never ever criticise other referees to anyone verbally or with actions; and make sure your mobile phone is switched off and that it stays in your pocket whenever you are in the squash court area, whether you are refereeing or not.”
When contacted, PSF secretary Amir Nawaz said this should not have happened. “The referees should not engage themselves in such non-professional acts which destroy the spirit of the game,” added Amir.
Tahir denied that he was talking on phone during the match. “A referee should not talk on phone during the match, but it is not a violation of WSF Code of Conduct for referees. And I was not talking on phone as the picture shows,” said Tahir while talking to this scribe.
This correspondent sent the said picture to Referees Director of Asian Squash Federation (ASF) M Munir Shah to seek his views about this. But instead of replying he forwarded the picture to Tahir. “Munir Shah forwarded me the picture you sent him,” said Tahir.