ISLAMABAD, March 3: The 4th COAS international squash championship gets underway at Mushaf Squash Complex on Saturday with a two-day pre-qualifying round.

The championship, which concludes on March 11, carries a cash prize $25,000 with the title winner receiving $3,971.

The pre-qualifying round will comprise 32 local players. The qualifying round includes two foreign players and will take place from March 6 to 7.

The main round will be held from March 8 to 11, featuring three foreign players — Muhammad Abbas and Ramy Ashour of Egypt and Ritwik Bhattacharya of India.

Shahid Zaman of Pakistan will be the top seed. Besides the above four, the others in the main draw are Mansoor Zaman, Arshad Iqbal Burki, Aamir Atlas Khan, Khayal Muhammad Khan, Shamsul Islam Khan, Yasir Butt (wild-card), Amjad Khan and Basit Ashfaq.—APP