ISLAMABAD, Sept 5: Twenty six foreign players will figure in the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) International Squash Circuit being played at Karachi from Sept 14 to 22.

Gregory Gaultier of France is the top seed for the tournament which carries a prize money of US$25,000.

Pakistan Mansoor Zaman, currently the world no.15, is ranked 2 for the event while Shahid Zaman and Majid Khan are the only other Pakistanis automatically in the main draw.

The 12 players automatically in the main draw are: Gregory Gaultier (France), Mansoor Zaman (Pakistan), Adrian Grant (England), Renan Levigne (France), Muhammad Abbas (Egypt), Nick Mathew (England), Omar Elborolossy (Egypt), Stephen Meads (England), Shahid Zaman (Pakistan), David Evans (Wales), Wael El Hindi (Egypt), Majid Khan (Pakistan).

Four players will advance to the main round from the two-day qualifying stage of the Championship.

The 12 players in the qualifying round:

Farrukh Zaman (Pakistan), Hisham Muhammad Ashour (Egypt), Larens Anjema (Netherlands), Liam Kenny (Ireland), Aijaz Azmat (Pakistan), Arshad Iqbal Burki (Pakistan), Glenn Keenan (Australia), Peter Barker (England), Jan Koukal (Czech Republic), Alister Walker (England), Peter Pastijn (Belgium), Shamsul Islam Khan (Pakistan).

There are also nine foreigners amongst the 24 reserves for the championship.

These foreigners are: Jago Nardelli (England), Andre Holderegger (Switzerland), Duncan Walsh (England), Sam Miller (England), Sherif Kamel (Egypt), Ahmed Hamza (Egypt), Faisal Sarkhouh (Kuwait), Taiwo Kuti (Nigeria), Chris Wind (UAE).

Meanwhile, the NWFP National Junior (boys and girls) Squash Championship, with a prize money of Rs. 300,000, will be played from Oct 26 to 31 at Peshawar while NWFP Governor Cup is scheduled in the same city on Nov 10-15, carrying a prize money of Rs. 500,000. —APP