By IANS,
Karachi : Former Pakistan squash champion Shahid Zaman risked arrest for overstaying in Malaysia, but that did not deter him from winning a satellite tournament in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, Friday.
Shahid defeated Australia’s Mike Corren 3-1 in the final of the NSC Satellite tournament in Malaysia just hours after being told that he could be arrested by the authorities for exceeding his 18-day stay which was to expire Friday.
A former world No. 14 and Pakistan No. 1, Shahid was given an 18-day entry that would expire on the day of the final.
But Shahid said that he had worked hard to reach the final and will only fly back home after playing in it.
“I was under a lot of pressure,” Shahid said “There was a chance that they could have arrested me but I was ready to take that risk,” he added.
Shahid is on a comeback trail after falling in the world rankings and his 7-11, 11-4, 11-5, 13-11 victory over Corren will give his ranking a boost.
“Thank God I didn’t give him (Corren) a walk-over,” said Shahid, who visited the Malaysian immigration department, just hours before the final to get his stay in Malaysia extended. He was finally allowed to stay in the country.