Pakistan Squash - Blessing and Curse

 

For the past few years, at every gathering I've attended, whether with Desi or non-Desi friends, I've always been asked one question: "Why is there no top squash player from Pakistan like Jahangir or Jansher Khan anymore?" Before I even get a chance to answer, someone inevitably says something like, "Kids don't want to work hard anymore," or "Kids today don't have the same talent or drive as Jahangir or Jansher Khan," or they'll blame the lack of talent on bad governance and more. But the reality is that these are just wild guesses, and they aren't even close to the truth.

As a father of two daughters, I know that my kids are a direct reflection of me as a parent, just as students are a reflection of their coach. My kids and students can't have a goal or vision greater than the one I set for them. This is true for any organization as well. In my opinion, the reason Pakistani kids aren't achieving greatness in squash isn't due to a lack of commitment or hard work. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

I've tried to put some thought into this issue below. The purpose of this is not to blame anyone, but rather to pinpoint the root cause and make myself and others aware of it. We can't fix the problem if we don't know the root cause of the challenge.”

 

 

I was about 10 or 11 years old in the early 80s, watching Jahangir Khan play against a player from Australia. My late uncle, who was visiting us, passed by and said that one day I would be like Jahangir Khan. I remained quiet, trying to control my emotions. Growing up, we heard nothing but stories of Jahangir Khan, who was so dominant on the squash court. Most of his matches were 3-0 victories due to his great physical and mental fitness and strength. I don’t need to go into much detail, as most of the squash world knows him very well.

Then, in the early 90s, Jansher Khan appeared out of nowhere. He surprised Jahangir Khan and the rest of the world by quickly becoming one of the top players. From that point, Jahangir and Jansher dominated the world of squash.

Growing up in Lahore, we had very few local and national squash tournaments, such as the Punjab Open. Even though Jansher was the world champion, he sometimes showed up to play in these tournaments. It was great fun to watch him play, and it was a treat. I always wanted to be like him!

I remember I had to win five matches just to get to the first round of the Punjab Open, which felt like winning a draw of 32 players. Many players showed up from all over Pakistan, especially from Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, and Quetta, and they were all great players. If everyone who showed up could afford to be a PSA member, I think at that time we would have had 50 world-ranked players out of 100. There was so much talent that I can’t explain. For little prize money, many players came to play. It was a beautiful and memorable lifetime experience that I was able to witness.

Since Jahangir and Jansher rose to world prominence without any proper support system or channel designed by the local or national squash federation, our squash authorities hoped someone would emerge just as they did. However, there was no plan or discussion on how to find successors to these mighty squash players. I witnessed many great talents leaving the country due to a lack of proper resources and direction, taking coaching jobs in the Middle East, Malaysia, and other parts of the world to support their families and loved ones. Meanwhile, countries like Egypt started developing more successful squash roadmaps.

I don’t want to blame our Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) entirely because most of the gentlemen come from very different backgrounds and are definitely very good in their own professions. However, their lack of squash experience shows, and they heavily rely on so-called legends or ex-pro squash players. Unfortunately, many of these players use the institution for their own gain or benefit their family and friends. They ensure that any kid who might threaten their own children’s success does not receive any support from the PSF or any other channel.

When I was young, I wanted to play cricket like almost every kid growing up in the 80s. But I remember my father’s words. He said, “You need to be in a team to play cricket, and I don’t know anyone who can help us get you in the team. On the other hand, squash is a one-man show. Due to the nature of the sport, you can go as high as you want without seeking anyone’s help.” It sounded too good to be true. Yes, it may not be as bad as team sports, but there were still many challenges I personally faced. Maybe one day I will write or tell someone in an interview if I ever get the chance to be interviewed 😊.

In my humble opinion, there are three main reasons we failed to produce world-class players in Pakistan after Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan:

1. PAF - Lack of Experience: As far as I remember, squash at the national and international levels in Pakistan is primarily run and managed by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). I’m not entirely sure why this is the case, and I don't know if anyone else has a clear answer either. It's unclear what the connection is between squash and the PAF, or how the sport ended up under their management instead of with PIA or another institution. Additionally, it's puzzling why squash isn't run by an independent body, similar to how tennis, cricket, football, and hockey are managed both in Pakistan and globally. We can discuss this topic another time, as it’s not the focus of our discussion today.  We can discuss this other time. As this is not the topic today. The PSF is dominated by a few so-called legends who have hijacked the entire federation. By the time the secretary of the Pakistan federation understands and knows the people, he gets replaced by someone else, and everything starts all over again.
2. Monopoly and Self-interest: Many individuals with good intentions either leave or are forced to quit. The monopolistic nature of the federation stifles new talent and ideas. Most kids come from humble families whose parents don't have the time or money to invest in their children, who heavily depend on local city-level squash organizations. Sadly, even in volunteer work, people often use their positions for personal gain.
3. Election of Officials (City and province) : The worst part is how these officials get elected. No players are involved in the process, and most of them have never played squash at the national level. Instead, their father or grandfather either held high ranks in the government etc. This clearly shows that these volunteers are not there because of their love for squash but for the fame and power.

These factors have prevented us from nurturing and developing world-class squash talent in Pakistan.

In my humble opinion, as humans, we have the power to change our destiny at any time in our lives. We need to set clear goals and visions, and then develop strategies around them. Like any successful company or organization, we need to start with the right people—those with experience who are the best in their field.

It's essential to have a strong system of checks and balances. Just as in a public or private company, if someone does not perform or deliver, they should be let go. Squash needs to be treated like a firm or company, with someone responsible for the operations, people, and, of course, the players' well-being.

 

I am open to discussing this in a one-on-one meeting with the concerned body or organization. I believe we still have so much to offer the world. We are a resilient and hardworking nation, and for that reason, everything is possible. We can definitely revive squash in Pakistan if there is anyone truly interested and genuinely cares for these young children and their families, who take a gamble by putting their children in squash.