KARACHI, Oct 23: Pakistan’s Farhan Mehboob will be the top seed when the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) International squash championship commences at the Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex from Nov 1.

The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) announced on Thursday that apart from the hosts, players from New Zealand, England, Hong Kong, Austria and United Arab Emirates (UAE) would be taking part in the six-day US$25,000 event.

Aamir Atlas Khan and Mansoor Zaman are the other two players who are directly placed in the 16-man draw with wild-card entry Farhan Zaman.

PSF secretary Shams-ul-Haq said qualifying rounds would be contested on first two days of the championship.

He added that the event would be followed by US$30,000 Pakistan Open at the Mushaf Squash Complex in Islamabad.

Farhan is also the top seed for the Pakistan Open.

He said women’s event would be played at the same venue with the prize purse of US$10,900 in the second week of November. Christina Mak from Hong Kong would be the top seed.

Players from New Zealand, Czech Republic, England, Australia, Hong Kong, Greece, Egypt and Malaysia are participating in the tournament.—APP