PSF vs BSA: Steps in the Wrong Direction
by Waqar Hamza

February 21, 2019 - Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is at loggerheads with its affiliated unit Balochistan Squash Association (BSA) for past many years, and the situation is getting worse day by day.

And the issue has reached a point where PSF had to create a new parallel body (BSA headed by Saiful Islam and Mohammad Arshad) to run squash affairs in the province at its own will.

It all started with PSF’s conflicts with Sher Ali Kakar, who is now Chairman BSA. Sher Ali has many times raised his voice against PSF and how it runs its office.

The situation turned bad when both the parties got engaged in litigation. Sher Ali also ran for PSF President’s slot but PSF always managed to persuade him not to contest for the said slot or withdraw legal cases against the federation.

Last year, when Kakar moved the court to make PSF allow him contest the election for President’s slot once again the federation banned him through a decision taken in its Executive Committee’s meeting in July.

PSF informed the house Sher Ali Kakar had filed another legal case against PSF in Balochistan High Court and had got court orders to contest the elections if he qualifies. On the occasion, Secretary of parallel BSA Mohammad Arshad had intimated PSF in writing that their BSA does not accept Sher Ali Kakar as Chairman and does not recommend him for elections of President.

Also, legendary squash player Qamar Zaman informed the house that Sher Ali Kakar does not hold a legal appointment so he is not eligible or qualified to contest for the elections of President.

Therefore, he must not be entertained at all and recommended that Sher Ali Kakar must be banned for any squash activities anywhere. Jehangir Khan and President Punjab Squash Association seconded Qamar Zaman.

PSF stated in the meeting that Pakistan Sports Board had also intimated in writing that Sher Ali Kakar has no legal status as Chairman BSA.

After detailed deliberations, the Executive Committee unanimously agreed that Sher Ali Kakar is not eligible to contest elections for President of PSF and he is banned for any activity related to squash while no further correspondence is to be carried out by PSF with him on any matters pertaining to squash.

After banning Kakar, PSF asked the parallel BSA to create squash activities in Balochistan. The parallel BSA informed the PSF that they had generated US$ 75000 for organizing an international tournament in Quetta.

And PSF itself has generated sponsorship worth Rs 500,000/= for BSA to hold national level squash tournaments in 2019.

The parallel BSA then organized Balochistan International Squash in Quetta from November 3-7 in which players from Britain, Mexico, Malaysia and Hong Kong participated.

The league was won by world number 27 Leo Au from Hong Kong by defeating world number 36 Nafiizwan Adnan from Malaysia in the final.

Though the foreign players were paid hefty amount for participating in the league, it was a big achievement of PSF-backed BSA as Balochistan has been facing acute shortage of local squash activities, let alone an international league, since long due to security concerns.

But at the same time, Sher Ali Kakar managed to get a stay order against PSF as the Civil Judge Quetta had suspended the minutes of PSF's Executive Committee meeting and AGM held in July last year in which they imposed a ban on him.

The court also directed the respondents No.1 to 3 [Director General Sports of Balochistan, Secretary PSF, President Balochistan Olympics Association ] to stop correspondence with respondent No.3 [Saiful Islam] and 4 [Mohammad Arshad] till the next date of hearing.

Moreover, PSF-backed BSA recently received another blow when Balochistan Olympics Association ordered the Kakar-led BSA to hold their elections.

This clearly shows that BOA is recognizing only Kakar-led BSA, hence PSF-backed BSA is in hot waters despite their valuable contribution through holding an international squash league.

The skirmish between PSF and Sher Ali Kakar has entered its most dangerous phase. No matter who wins this battle, but the game of squash is surely not winning.