KARACHI, July 28: Pakistan’s Saleh Muhammad will take on former World champion Pankaj Advani of India and Muhammad Yousuf faces Keith Boon of Singapore in pre-quarterfinals of 21st Asian Snooker championship in Bangkok on Friday. Experienced Saleh lost to Advani in the final of world championship in China in 2003.

Besides two Pakistanis, five Thais, two Indians, two Chinese, two United Arab Emirates’ (UAE), one cueist each from Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia have made to the knock-out stage of 21-nation contest. Interestingly if both Saleh and Yousuf win their matches, they will be pitted against each other in the quarterfinal.

Reigning champion Alok Kumar of India failed to make up to the last 16 stage of the championship. The matches in the last round will be of best-of-seven frames while matches in quarterfinals which will also be played on Friday evening will best-of-nine-frames.

The best of nine frames semifinals will be contested on Saturday while best-of-eleven frames final will be contested on Sunday.

Following is the pre-quarterfinal line-up: Nittiwat Kanjansari (Thai) v Jin Long (China), Manan Chandra (Ind) v Chan Kowk ing (Hkg), Saleh Muhammad (Pak) vs Pankaj Advani (Ind) Keith Boon (Sing) vs Muhammad Yousuf (Pak), Kobkit Palajin (Thai) v Ng Ann Seng (Malaysia), M.Sultan Al-Joker (UAE) v Noppdon Sangnil (Thai) Cai Jianzhoung (China), M.Mustufa Shehab (UAE) v Issara Kachaiwong (Thai).—APP