KARACHI, April 29: Pakistan number one Shahid Zaman will meet England 's Joey Barrington in the opening rounds of the 2006 Liverpool Open Squash Championship on May 3.

According to details made available here on Saturday, Shahid is seeded 14th in the event and is expected to clash with another Englishman, James Willstrop, one of the pre-tournament favourites, in the second round.

Shahid is the only Pakistani player to get direct place in the main rounds of the US$78,000 tournament. Two of his compatriots – Arshad Iqbal Burki and Aamir Atlas Khan – would feature in qualifying rounds of the tournament.

The event's top three seeds – Australia's David Palmer, England's James Willstrop and French Thierry Lincou – face qualifiers on the opening day of the event with British national champion Nick Matthew taking on Italy’s Davide Bianchetti.

Main rounds of the Liverpool Open Squash Championship will take place at the St George's Hall in Liverpool.—PPI