ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: More than 30 foreign players are expected to participate in the Pakistan Open Squash Championship to be played here from Dec 2 to 10.

"We expect several foreign players to turn up here but entries will be known after World Open to be played at Qatar just before the Pakistan Open," said Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF), senior vice-pesident, Air Marshal Raashid Kalim.

The pre-qualifying round of the Pakistan Open will be held Dec 2-3, qualifying round on Dec 4-5 while the main round is to be played from Dec 6 to 10.

Bank Al-Falah will be the main sponsor of the tournament while another sponsor is also likely to come forward.

Talking with reporters, Air Marshal Raashid Kalim also released the names of Pakistani players selected to take part, after trials, in the four categories of British Open Junior Squash Championship at Sheffield in January.

He also released the PSF calendar for 2005, during which Pakistani players will also participate in five other tournaments abroad - Virginia Pro in USA from Jan 10 to 15, Windy City Open at Chicago from Jan 20 to 25, Dayton Open in Ohio from 25 to 30, World Games at Disburg (Germany) from July 14 to 24 and 10th SAF Games in Sri Lanka, also in July.

The international tournaments to be organised in Pakistan in 2005 will be COAS International at Islamabad, Asian Junior Squash, Pakistan International Squash Circuit at Karachi, Pakistan International Circuit at Lahore, CAS International Circuit at Peshawar, CNS International Circuit at Karachi and World Men's team championship in December 2005 in Islamabad.

The following players were selected for British Juniors in four categories:

Under 13: Danish Atlas, Farhan Zaman and Ali Ayub.

Under-15: Waqar Mehboob, Shohaib Hassan and Asif Khan. Under-17: Aamir Atlas, Alamzeb Jr. and Adnan Khan.

Under-19: Yasir Butt, Farhan Mehboob and Basit Ashfaq. Ashfaq.

Besides, two girls - Maria Toor Pakay and Sara Awan -will also participate in the ladies events of the British Open Juniors this year.-APP