KARACHI, March 9: Pakistan number one Shahid Zaman has been seeded 11th in the squash singles events in next week’s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. The Pakistani has been awarded a bye in the first round. Mansoor Zaman, Pakistan number two, is another Pakistani placed in main round and is seeded 15th.

Meanwhile, Australia’s David Palmer and Nicol David of Malaysia are expected to win the gold for the first time in the singles events in men’s and women’s events. The singles events will run from March 16 to 20.

Men’s first round draw:

David Palmer (Aus) bye; David Evans (Wal) v Hardeep Reel (Ken); Shahier Razik (Can) v Yasir Issadeen (Sri); Chris Simpson (Gue) v Navin Samarasinghe (Sri); John White (SCO) bye; Nicholas Kyme (Ber) v Chikumbutso Mkutumula (Maw); Joseph Kneipp (Aus) v Joseph Chapman (Bvi); Joseph Desira (Mlt) v Shawn Badrinath (Guy); Anthony Ricketts (Aus) bye; Maxim Weithers (Guy) v Colin Ramasra (Tri); Stewart Boswell (Aus) bye; Steve Richardson (Irl) v Joshua Pinard (Tri); Lee Beachill (Eng) bye; Craig van der Wath (Rsa) v Nadeem Hosenbux (Mri); Alex Gough (Wal) v Colin Alexander (Svg); James Stout (Ber) v Joseph Karigithe (Ken); Clinton Leeuw (Rsa) v Jeffery Broderick (Cay); Graham Ryding (Can) v Karl Nassief (Dmn); Christopher Binnie (Jam) v Leonard Bedneau (Dmn); Mohd Azlan Iskandar (Mas) bye; Matthew Giuffre (Can) v Andrew McGoon (Fij); Shahid Zaman (Pak) bye; Rodney Durbach (Rsa) v Chirag Shah (Ken); Peter Nicol (Eng) bye; Shawn Delierre (Can) v Sonalmeet Nagra (Fij); Ong Beng Hee (Mas) bye; Lazarus Chilufya (Rsa) v Aubrey Taulo (Maw); Nick Matthew (Eng) bye; Hartaj Bains (Ken) v O’Neil Chilambwe (Zam); Mansoor Zaman (Pak) v Gavin Jones (Wal); Harry Leitch (Sco) v James Bentick (Svg); James Willstrop (Eng) bye.—PPI