Pakistan pull out after visa drama

An official source in the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) said the matter had been brought to the notice of the World and Asian bodies since Pakistan were the defending champions in the event which started in Chennai on Wednesday. The PSF claimed that it had submitted applications for visas of players and officials well before time, on March 17. 

PSF secretary Tahir Sultan alleged that after refusing the visas to the Pakistan team comprising Farhan Mehboob, Farhan Zaman, Tayyab Aslam and Waqar Mehboob on Monday morning, the Indian High Commission had asked them to submit their passports again. 

“After returning the passports to us, they (Indian High Commission) contacted us and asked us to submit the passports again for the issuance of visas but we have now decided not to apply again,” Sultan told PTI.

Sultan claimed that the Indian authorities had used delaying tactics while processing the visa applications of the Pakistani players.

Pakistan’s former squash legends Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan criticised India for their “non-sporting approach” and called on the PSF and Pakistan Olympic Council to take up the issue at the international levels.