KARACHI, Oct 11: Reigning champions Australia has been top seeded for the World Men’s Team squash championship being held in the Austrian capital Vienna from Oct 19-25, according to information available from World Squash Federation (WSF) Saturday.

Former world champion Pakistan which seeded 9th in the competition is drawn in pool “H” with Italy and Malaysia.

Mansoor Zaman, Farrukh Zaman, Majid Khan and Khayal Muhammad will be representing Pakistan in the week-long championship.

Thirty countries will contest the 19th Men’s World Championships. Hosts Austria are pooled with France, 14th seeds Sweden and event newcomers Slovenia.

Ccompeting initially in eight pools before the top 16 teams move into the knockout stage. Record six nations - Bermuda, Czech Republic, Hungary, Korea, Russia and Slovenia are making their first appearances in the championship.

Led by world champion and newly-crowned British Open champion David Palmer, the seven-times champions are expected to face No. 2 seeds England in the final.

England, winners in 1995 and 1997, will be led by world No. 1 Peter Nicol for the first time.

Fast-emerging squash nation France, runners-up to England in the European Championships for the past four years, are expected to claim a top four finish for the first time as third seeds. 1999 champions Egypt are seeded four.

The pool line-ups (with seeding in brackets) are: Pool A: [1] Australia, [16] Germany, [17/24] Japan, [25/30] Russia Pool B: [2] England, [15] Switzerland, [17/24] New Zealand, [25/30] Hungary Pool C: [3] France, [14] Sweden, [17/24] Austria, [25/30] Slovenia Pool D: [4] Egypt, [13] Finland, [17/24] Hong Kong, [25/30] Bermuda Pool E: [5] Canada, [12] Netherlands, [17/24] Czech Republic, Pool F: [6] Scotland, [11] South Africa, [17/24] USA, [25/30] Korea Pool G: [7] Wales, [10] Ireland, [17/24] Mexico, [25/30] Kuwait Pool H: [8] Malaysia, [9] Pakistan, [17/24] Italy.—APP