ISLAMABAD: Pre-qualifying round of the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) International Squash Championship begins here at the Mushaf Squash Complex on Thursday.

The main round of the event starts on Oct 20 at the same venue.

Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, tournament referee Fahim Gul -- Flanked by PSF vice-president Qamar Zaman and secretary Aamir Nawaz -- said players from Egypt, Qatar, Jordon, Wales, Austria, UAE, Kuwait and Pakistan will feature in the championship carrying Rs25,000 prize money.

It is pertinent to mention here that it will be the first prominent international squash event to be hosted by Pakistan since 2008 when precarious security situation in the country prevented foreign sports teams from touring.

However, the Professional Squash Association after observing improved law and order situation in Pakistan allotted the CAS International Championship to the Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) in April this year.

Fahim further said among the participants in the CAS event Egyptian star and world No.28 Omar Abel Meguid will be the top seed while Pakistan No.1 Nasir Iqbal, (42 in world ranking), will be second seed. Farhan Mahboob of the host country has been granted a wild card.

National coach Jamshed Gul was also present on the occasion.

The finals of the tournament will be staged on Oct 23.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2014