The next two years are event-packed, carrying Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Islamic Games, and South Asian Games which Pakistan would host in early 2023. But ahead of these events badminton received a huge blow when the country’s top player Murad Ali was banned by Pakistan Badminton Federation (PBF) for two years for disciplinary issues. It means the Peshawar-based shuttler will miss these events. His fault is that he has been found speaking against the federation in connection with the Tokyo Olympics. It is evident that Murad has given the statement in desperation as he feels that being the country’s top player he deserved to be part of the Tokyo Olympics on IOC place.

A senior official of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) told me that Murad has also spoken against the NOC in that context.

A PBF senior official has been quoted by media as saying that Murad was also guilty of speaking against the federation twice before.

But I have learnt that on the previous two occasions Murad had apologised.

Before discussing the matter in depth, I must say that the punishment is too heavy. It should be reviewed immediately. One cannot impose such a huge punishment on such a major player for such an offence. The PBF is a weak federation and its recent track record is also not strong as far as players development is concerned. Taking such decisions don’t suit it.

The PBF should have been grateful to the four-time champion Murad as he has been spending money from his own pocket and getting medals. The PBF has not signed a contract with him and does not pay him anything. Yes, it is right that players should be disciplined but there is a method about how to keep players in discipline. To ban someone for two years is an easy thing to do.

A federation exists because of the players. This is the only smart player which Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has produced over the years who is a four-time national champion and bronze medallist of the last two South Asian Games.

Our badminton base is very weak. Mahoor Shahzad got the IOC invitation place for Tokyo Olympics because of her own struggle. She met her own expenses mostly and improved her ranking. Can PBF tell us barring the 2018 Asian Games and 2019 South Asian Games which were sponsored by the state how much foreign tours have been made by the Pakistani shuttlers during the last three and a half years?

Those federations can take such tough decisions which provide everything to their players. The PBF Secretary Wajid Ali himself has been a player and he should know better how to treat players like Murad.

I have been working as sports journalist for the last two decades and am convinced that the PBF decision is a bit too harsh. Other nations protect their top players while we seek an opportunity to destroy the careers of such players. Murad is a gutsy player but because he does not get the required exposure due to financial issues so he could not progress much in international circuit.

Handling players with love is a technique which majority of federations don’t know because their top officials are often biased.

Murad should have been handled carefully. The PBF should have briefed its top shuttlers about the criteria of IOC invitation place in advance so that these players, including Palwasha Bashir who has also expressed disappointment over not making it to Olympics, could have known the real situation.

But they don’t bother and act like dictators. The relations between a federation and players count a lot. Only those federations are successful which get the confidence of their players, motivate them and look after them.

In cricket, too, some top Pakistani players were found violating discipline like this in the past but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) never banned anyone for two years. Top players are our precious assets and the nation will not allow any federation or individual to destroy their careers. The PBF will not be allowed to destroy Murad’s career.

The PBF Secretary Wajid Ali will also enjoy the Tokyo trip as a badminton official and it is because of the players that he will be there.

In principle being a PBF Secretary he should have sent a coach with Mahoor Shahzad.

Pakistan does not have top quality shuttlers and having banned Murad at such a crucial stage when so many important events are ahead is a killer step.

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and National Bank, which is Murad’s parent department, should take up Murad’s case with the PBF so that the precious two years of Pakistan’s top-ranked player could be protected.

I urge the top officials of Pakistan sports to bury the nine-year old enmity which was created when a parallel POA was formed. The conflict has destroyed a few disciplines and a huge discrimination has been seen on the part of some responsible people which is indirectly damaging the players of those federations which favoured the then parallel POA.

73.alam@gmail.com