Pakistani squash legend Jahangir Khan has urged the government to do more to revitalise Pakistan's once proud sporting identity, which is suffering a serious slump due to the lack of facilities, militancy and infighting among sports federations.
According to the Daily Times, Pakistan, which is on the verge of a ban from the Olympics for flouting administrative rules, has been a virtual no-go zone for top foreign sports teams since Islamist gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in 2009.
Stating that the country, which celebrated its Independence Day on Wednesday, must do more to improve its image and remove the 'terrorist' tag, Khan said that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must look into the situation in sports as they are the only identity Pakistan has at the world level.
The report said that Pakistan once reigned in the world in sports like cricket, squash and hockey in 1994, although Khan said that the continuous struggles has had a disastrous effect on their sports, which is being destroyed by terrorism and bad management.
According to the report, Khan won a record 10 British Open titles and six world titles, dominating squash in the 1980s and 90s along with his compatriot Jansher Khan, who won eight world and six British crowns.
However, the report mentioned that since their retirement, the country has failed to produce any top-level squash players, with Khan saying that along with squash, hockey's status has also declined and cricket's image is tainted by players caught in match-fixing.
Four-time hockey world champions, Pakistan slumped to last in the World Cup held in India three years ago and a poor seventh in last year's London Olympics, the report added.
