National Championship: Semi-finals line-ups confirmed

Sajjad, Iqbal are part of quartet still alive in competition

KARACHI: Former Asian number two Muhammad Sajjad, Asjad Iqbal, Khurram Agha and Nadir Miraan will be in action in the semi-finals of the Jubilee Insurance National Championship 2017 at Karachi Gymkhana on Monday.

In the quarter-finals, Sajjad dominated Sohail Shehzad from start to finish, conceding only the third and sixth frames to triumph 5-2.

In contrast, Iqbal's last-eight win over Ahsan Javaid was a battling one as he dropped the opening frame 36-76 before equalising the tie by taking the second frame 64-38 with a break of 50.

Javaid regained the lead in the third frame 69-26 but found Iqbal equal to it again as he prevailed 80-0 in the fourth with a break of 68.

With the tie level at two frames apiece, Iqbal took over, claiming the next two frames 99-5 and 98-0, and even though Javaid threatened a comeback by taking the seventh frame 71-29, the former Pakistan number one player sealed the win with a 62-55 in the eighth frame to make his way to the semi-finals.

Iqbal will next face Miraan, who edged out Shahid Aftab 5-3 in the quarter-final, whereas Sajjad's final-four opponent will be Khurram Agha, who overcame Shahram Changezi 5-4 in the longest battle of the day.

The week-long National Championship featured 48 of the country's best cueists, with the two finalists guaranteed a place in the 33rd Asian Championship that will take place in Doha in April.