Islamabad/Pakistan: Former Squash world champion Jansher Khan has urged everyone to stop insulting Pakistan’s cricket players, as they are our national heroes. Spot fixing allegations have not been proved as yet, so we can’t blame them.
In an exclusive interview, he said if our players are involved in the Spot-fixing during third test against England, they should be given life imprisonment, but right now they are innocent and they are just facing allegations. “Our people and media should support our national heroes in this difficult time but our people and media is more relying on the British media reports which are always against our Pakistani team,” he said.
Answering one question, he replied that this Spot-fixing scandal has placed an unbearable burden on Pakistan’s cricket players and those responsible should be penalized. “If our players are declared innocent and nothing is proved against them, then Pakistan Authorities must take legal action against the British Newspapers who have damaged the image of Pakistan all over the world,” he demanded.
He remembered that in our epoch we could earn money through match fixing but we had never thought about this. We were sincere with the game and our country that’s why Pakistan had won major titles of the squash and today we have the respect of the squash world and the name of Pakistan is written with golden words. He also stated that there was a time when Pakistan was a world champion in squash, but now Pakistani squash is passing its worst period. “Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) is not doing any development work for the promotion of squash. Due to wrong steps taken by PSF squash is declining day by day in the country,” he pointed out.
Jansher Khan also offered his services for the promotion of squash in Pakistan. “I am ready to offer my services for the development of squash if the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) requests me,” he said. He also criticized the PSF for ignoring former players of squash, and not giving them the chance to contribute. He said we are the heroes of this country and we should be given respect from federation. The Federation should give us an opportunity to stop the decline of squash. Many other nations have engaged their former players for the development of squash because they know the importance of their past heroes.