KARACHI, Oct 13: Most of the world's top squash stars including defending champion Thierry Lincou have decided to skip the 2006 edition of the Pakistan Open squash championship to be held in Islamabad next month.

According to the list of participants for the US$85,000 tournament, almost half of the world's top twenty players would not be competing in the super series event to be played from November 18 to 25 at the Mushaf Squash Complex.

Players set to miss the competition include British Open champion Nick Matthew of England, Gregory Gaultier (Canada) and David Palmer (Australia).

However, the tournament has managed to attract Amr Shabana of Egypt, the current world number one.

Players expected to challenge Shabana are Australia's Anthony Ricketts, former Pakistan Open champion James Willstrop of England, Karim Darwish of Egypt and Stuart Boswell of Australia.

The main round draw includes four Pakistani players including one wild card entrant.

Pakistan number one Mansoor Zaman from Peshawar would lead the Pakistani challenge in the competition while other local players getting direct berths in the tournament include Shahid Zaman and Aamir Atlas Khan.

The Pakistan Squash Federation has decided to award a wild card entry to Arshad Iqbal Burki.—PPI