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KARACHI. — Legendary Pakistani squash player Jahangir Khan says the country must do more to improve its image and stop the rest of the world thinking of Pakistanis as “terrorists”. Pakistan, which celebrated its Independence Day yesterday, held the world titles in cricket, squash and hockey in 1994.
But lack of facilities, militancy and infighting among sports federations have caused a serious slump, with the country on the verge of a ban from the Olympics for flouting administrative rules. The country 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. Khan (50) said the government must do more to revitalise Pakistan’s once proud sporting identity.

“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif must look into the situation in sports, which is fast getting out of control,” Khan said.
“Sports are the only identity Pakistanis have at the world level but now we are tagged as terrorists, because our sports and sportsmen have been pushed back.”

Pakistan suffers almost daily bomb and gun attacks, most carried out by home-grown Islamist militants, and Khan said the struggle had had a disastrous effect on sport.

“Our sports are destroyed by terrorism with no country wanting to visit us because of security fears,” said Khan.
“On top of that, the mismanagement in our sports, with two factions in the Olympic association, have brought a bad name for the country.” — AFP.