Former champions Pakistan upbeat ahead of World Team Squash Championship

Pakistan’s squash coach Fahim Gul on Friday said that they are set to leave with a positive frame of mind and will put in their best in the WSF World Squash Team Championship which will begin in Hong Kong from December 9.

“All the teams will come to the World Championship fully prepared and no team can be taken lightly. We have made full-fledged preparation and you see our boys have been doing well in the last few matches. We are going with the hope to first qualify for the top 16 and then we will see onwards,” Fahim told Nukta just before leaving for Hong Kong in the wee hours of Friday.

Pakistan has been clubbed in Group H with Hong Kong, debutants Peru and Italy.

About Hong Kong, Fahim said that they are confident to beat them.

“We had beaten this team in the Asian Games last year in Hangzhou. You need to go with a solid plan and we are going with a good plan and I am hopeful we will deliver,” Fahim said.

He said that they would need to beat two teams in a bid to progress to the top 16.

“Peru will make their debut. They have fielded three players although they have a world champion in Diego Elias but the other two players are little known as they don’t have PSA rankings as well so there is a chance,” said Fahim, also a former squash player.

“But we will not take any team lightly and we are going with full preparation and will fight forcefully,” the coach said.

The country’s top-ranked player Mohammad Asim Khan, Noor Zaman, Nasir Iqbal and Abdullah Nawaz will be joining hands to deliver at the biggest stage.

Nasir Iqbal plays a shot during a match.PSF

Fahim believes that upsets also may happen and this is what they will be looking at.

“It’s an honor to become world champion and it’s an honor for a player to play against the world champion like Diego Elias. Every player goes for a win irrespective of his opponent’s caliber. Diego Elias recently lost in Hong Kong Open in straight games and upsets happen. And we will field with the aim to pull off upsets,” Fahim said.

“As far as Italy is concerned so its team is not that good but we will not take them lightly as well and we will compete well,” Fahim said.

Asim Khan and Noor Zaman will join the squad while coming from South Africa.

As many as 26 teams will flex their muscles in the event, which have been clubbed in eight groups.

Defending champions Egypt have been clubbed in Group A with Spain and Japan; Group B contains five-time former champions England, Canada and Nigeria while Group C carries France, Czech Republic and Korea.

Switzerland are in Group D along with eight-time winners Australia and South Africa; Group E features Malaysia, Scotland and Philippines while Colombia, India and Ireland have been placed in Group F.

United States have been put in Group G with Germany, China and Kuwait while Pakistan are in Group H along with Hong Kong, Peru and Italy.

The top two teams from each pool will progress to the round of 16.

Pakistan has won this event six times. Last time they won it in 1993 when they downed Australia 3-0 in the final at Karachi.

Former greats Jansher Khan and Jahangir Khan were part of Pakistan team which also carried Zarak Jahan Khan and Mir Zaman Gul.

This is the first time in the championship history when women’s segment is also set to be conducted concurrently.

The event, which will be conducted at the Hong Football Club, will conclude on December 15.

All teams have four players each except Peru who are set to field only three players and all burden will be on the world champion Diego Elias.