Pakistan’s title race ends in last-16 tie

Squash players go down to Australia at World Team Championship.

KARACHI: Pakistan crashed out of the title race at the World Squash Team Championship, a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Australia sealing their fate in the last-16 match in Mulhouse, France yesterday.

The 14th seeds started off proceedings with Nasir Iqbal going down to Cameroon Pilley 3-1. Iqbal fought hard in the third before Pilley made sure there was no further drama as he sealed victory with an easy win. In the second tie, Ryan Cuskelly made light work of Farhan Mehboob, registering a straight-games win with a scoreline that read 11-8, 11-3 and 11-6. Farhan Zaman then lost to David Palmer.

However, Pakistan still have to contest the playoffs that can assure them a finish among the top 16. Earlier, the team defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in their last Group C match to move into the last-16.

With the matches played in 3-1-2 format, Mehboob gave Pakistan an early lead after thumping Bart Ravelli 11-5, 11-7, 11-8 but Laurens Anjema levelled the tie, beating Nasir 11-4 11-5, 11-5.

However, Zaman gave his all in the decider to help Pakistan win as he fended off a challenge from Sebastian Weenink 11-7, 12-10, 10-12, 11-8.

Pakistan coach Jamshed Gul was pleased with the performance of the team. “The fact that they have been unable to play regularly as compared to the other players shows their capability,” Gul told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 13^th, 2013.