ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: The world's top three squash players will miss next month's Pakistan Open but their absence will not take the sheen off the event, organisers said on Sunday.
World number one Lee Beachill of England, number two Thierry Lincou of France and number three Peter Nicol of England did not enter the $64,000 event here from Dec 6 to 10.
A string of attacks in Pakistan in recent years has affected cricket tours, with New Zealand cutting short a tour in 2002 after a bombing and Australia and the West Indies later choosing not to visit due to security concerns.
Pakistan had hoped that all the world's top squash players would come to Islamabad after the Nov 29-De 3 World Open in Doha, Qatar. The current top three were in Pakistan for the World Open in Lahore last year.
Australian David Palmer, ranked four in the world and current British Open and former world champion, is the top seed in the Pakistan Open draws. He faces tough competition from second seed Scot John White and sixth seeded Canadian Jonathan Power, the Pakistan Open defending champion.
Palmer will play Azlan Iskander of Malaysia while Power, world number nine, will face countryman Shahier Razzik in the first round matches. Pakistan will have only two players in the main round of 32 with Mansoor Zaman facing No9 seed James Willstrop of England and wild card entrant Yasir Butt squaring off with No3 seed Nick Matthew of England. -AFP
