December 12, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 17, 1424

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LAHORE, Dec 11: Pakistan is all set to host the Bank Alfalah World Open Squash Championship when the two-day qualifying round begins on Friday.

In all 32 players, including eight invtees from the World Squash Federation member countries will take part in  the qualifying round. Top eight qualifiers will join the main round in which 56 players have entered directly to make the tally.

From Pakistan prominent players contesting in the qualifying round are Majid Khan, Shamsul Islam, Farhan Mehboob, Mohammad Ilyas, Khayal Mohammad, Yasir Butt, Khalid Atlas, Naveed Atlas, Safeerullah, Zubair Ali Khan. But in the main round only three could qualify on their world rankings. They are Mansoor Zaman (15), Farrukh Zaman (38) Shahid Zaman (41).

The ironic part of the championship is that it is being held in Pakistan when there is no local player in the run for the top slot.

“It is a great disappointment for Pakistan that there is no hope for the host for picking up the main title, but it will provide an opportunity to our youngsters to get encouragement by seeing the world best players in action,” Punjab Squash Association (PSA) president Lt Gen Zarar Azim, who is also the chairman organising committee, said while talking to reporters.

PSA, he said, had estimated to fetch Rs 20 million through sponsorships and it was well on the target. However, he said that the exact income through the competition was not estimated.

Tournament director Karamatullah Chaudhary, while briefing reporters at the main venue Lahore Old Airport said that except three main round players all the others had confirmed their arrival programme.

The world No 4, Jonathon Power (Canada), winner of the last Pakistan Open in Lahore, the ninth seed Stewart Boswell of Australia and world No 42 Del Harris of England had opted out of the tournament due to fitness problems, Karamatullah said.

World No 3 David Palmer of Australia defends the title. The tournament director, explained that in the qualifying round eight matches would be played daily at two centres —PSA Complex and Old Airport Hall, newly converted into squash arena with the capacity of 1500 spectators.

The main round begins from Monday. Both the venues would host eight matches apiece till the second round, starting at 11 am daily. From the third round the matches would be held only at the Airport Hall.

The opening ceremony, however, had been delayed and now would be held on Tuesday with the match between Pakistan’s Mansoor Zaman and Therry Lincou of France.

PPI adds: Australia’s world No 15 Paul Price has pulled out of tournament because of a knee injury along with David Evans of Wales.