LAHORE, March 24: Home challenge in the Pakistan Open squash tournament ended Sunday when Egyptian Amr Shabana sent former champion Amjad Khan packing in the second round at the Fortress Stadium.

Amjad, country’s top ranked player, was the only Pakistani who survived the first round when he defeated world No 13 Alex Gough in an epic five-game thriller Saturday.

But Sunday, Amjad, a wildcard entry, was just a shadow of himself as Amr Shabana displayed excellent court coverage and a variety of shots to reduce the Pakistani to a mere spectator.

Shabana won 15-13 15-11 11-15 15-4.

On a day of upsets, world No 1 Peter Nicol marched into the quarterfinals with a comprehensive 15-8 15-6 15-9 victory over Finland’s world No 18 Olli Tuominen in just 35 minutes.

But the tournament lost fifth seed Thierry Lincou of France, seventh seed Malaysian Ong Bang Hee and eighth seed Mark Chaloner of England.

Lincou was stunned by Australian Anthony Ricketts, seeded 14, 13-15 15-11 15-8 15-2 while England’s 11th seed Lee Beachill ended the run of Hee 15-7 9-15 17-15 15-8. Scotland’s world No 14 Martin Heath dropped the first game before shutting the door on Chaloner 7-15 15-10 15-12 15-9 to reach the quarterfinals.

Amjad turned out to a bad loser as he time and again objected to referee Zarak Jahan Khan’s decision. He was also warned for violating the court when he pushed and hit Shabana in effort to earn cheap points and let calls.

Shabana also indulged himself in some foul play. Amjad fell in the court when he was hit badly by the Egyptian in the back in the second game but himself pushed Shabana twice in the third game.

Shabana drew the first blood when he won the first game 15-13. He doubled the lead by winning the second game at 15-11 after Amjad had caught him at 7-all.

Shabana was on course for a straight games victory when he surged to a 12-10 lead in the third. But Amjad first levelled the scores at 13-all and then sealed the game at 15-13.

But the third game seemed to have taken the toll of Amjad as he looked out of steam and gas in the fourth game which Shabana won easily at 15-4.

Nicol was at his brilliant best in demolishing Tuominen.

Nicol earned most of the points through his trademark drop shots. He won the first game 15-8 in 11 minutes. The world champion forged ahead winning the second game 15-6 in nine minute only. He dropped eight points to win the third game which took 15 minutes.

Nicol now plays Ricketts who laboured for 57 minutes before overcoming Lincou.

The Australian lost the first game 15-13 in 24 minutes after a series of long rallies. But Ricketts then took control and forced Lincou into making unforced errors.

“I don’t know how I lost my energy after the first game and could not play although the heat was the same for both of us,” Lincou said.

A well experienced Chaloner took a flying start when he took just 19 minutes to win the first game at 15-7 against Heath. But Heath lifted the standard of his game and exhibited fine court-craft. He won the second game at 15-10. In the third and fourth, he was in full cry by winning the games at 15-12 and 15-9.

World No 4 John White (Scotland) had an easy sailing into the quarterfinals when he defeated world No 10 Chris Walker in straight games 15-5 15-12 15-4. White earned a place in the last eight in 23 minutes.