KARACHI, Oct 16: Pakistan’s squash quartet opened the Australian tour on a winning note by notching up wins in the first round of the World Challenge, reports from Melbourne said Tuesday.

Pakistan’s number one Mansoor Zaman crushed Australian Scot Hofer in straight game 9-0, 9-0, 9-0. Pakistan team is in Australia to feature in the World Team Championship starting in Melbourne from Oct 22.

The World Challenge is organized to tune players from different countries ahead of the big event. Zaman will lay Australian Billy Haddrell in the second round.

Pakistan’s fast rising Shahid Zaman overcame a sluggish start to beat Australian Paul Davis by 4-9, 9-6, 9-2, 9-1 and would square off against former world number two Peter Marshall of England in the second round.

Aijaz Azmat beat Malaysian Yab Kok For in straight games, with a score of 9-8, 9-5, 9-4.

He will play Egyptian Omar Al Borossy in the next round. Pakistan’s Shamsul Islam had the better of Dutch Gabor Marges. Islam lost the first game 7-9, but came back strongly to win the next three games 9-4, 9-3, 10-8.—SADA