CNS International 2003
18-21 September, Karachi, Pakistan,  $25k

In a final uncannily similar to one they played four weeks earlier in northern Pakistan, France's Gregory Gaultier and Pakistan's Mansoor Zaman battled for five games in the climax of the $25,000 CNS International Squash Championship in Karachi - before the Frenchman ultimately triumphed 15-13 in the decider!

On the eve of the final, world No15 Mansoor Zaman assured Pakistan's News International that he had learned lessons from the pair's previous clash: "In Peshawar I won the first two games only to lose the next three against him. It was very disappointing because I knew I had nobody to blame but myself for the defeat. I will try my best to reverse that result tomorrow," said the son of the former British Open champion Qamar Zaman.

In a real battle of nerves at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex in Karachi, Mansoor fought back from a game down to take the next two to lead 2/1. Gaultier, just two places higher in the world rankings, drew
level and moved ahead 9-4 in the decider.

The local hero, however, pulled back four points to 8-9, and minutes later - much to the delight of the packed and partisan crowd - it was 10-10, then 11-11, 12-12, and 13-13.

Zaman, however, was unable to press home any advantage as Gaultier claimed the next two points and, after 68 electrifying minutes, the match 15-9 14-15 5-15 15-10 15-13.

The victory marks the seventh PSA Tour title of 20-year-old Gaultier's short career. Zaman now heads for England where he takes on Scotland's third seed John White in next week's opening round of the British Open on the all-glass court at the Albert Hall in Nottingham.
 

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• 2002 Event
  Darwish does the business
      

15-5, 15-11, 15-9 (49m)

Adrian Grant

15-9, 14-15, 5-15, 15-10, 15-13
 

Mansoor Zaman

14-17, 17-15, 15-11, 17-15 (73m)

Mansoor Zaman

Qualifying:
Qualifying Finals:
Laurens Anjema (NED) bt Muhammad (PAK)  11-15, 15-9, 15-5, 15-10 (57m)
Yasir butt(PAK) bt Safeer Ullah khan (PAK)  16-17, 9-15, 15-7, 15-13, 15-11 (77m)
Alister Walker(ENG) bt Arshad Iqbal Burki (PAK)  15-11, 9-15, 15-9, 14-17, 15-8 (61m)
Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Khalid Atlas (PAK) 11-15, 10-15, 15-14, 15-10, 15-6 (56m)

First round results:
Yasir Butt (PAK) bt Glenn Keenan (AUS)  15-13, 17-14, 15-11 (42m)
Khayal Muhammad (PAK) bt M Suleman Khan (PAK)  15-8, 15-8, 15-10 (13m)
Laurens Anjema (NED) bt Waseed Shad (PAK)  15-6, 15-6, 15-4 (37m)
Safeer Ullah Khan (PAK) bt Zubair Ali Khan (PAK)  15-11,14-15,15-2,15-9 (39m)
Alister Walker (ENG) bt Shahroze Khan (PAK)  15-9,15-3,15-6 (27m)
Khalid Atlas (PAK) bt Peter Barker (ENG)  15-12, 7-15, 9-15, 15-4, 15-7 (62m)
Arshad Iqbal Barki (PAK) bt Saeed Hassan (PAK)  13-15, 15-6, 15-9, 15-11 (53m)
Fahan Mahboob (PAK) bt Liam Kenny (IRL)  15-6, 15-13, 15-13 (45m)

GAULTIER & ZAMAN
SET FOR REMATCH
The top two seeds Gregory Gaultier and Mansoor Zaman will battle it out in the final of the $25,000 CNS International Squash Championship in Karachi - four weeks after contesting a nail-biting CAS International final in the north western Pakistan city of Peshawar.

Pakistan national champion Mansoor Zaman, the second seed, survived a tough tussle against his younger cousin Farrukh Zaman.  Ranked 41 in the world, 26 places below his opponent, unseeded Farrukh overcame a seven-point lead by Mansoor to take the opening game after a tie-break.

The left-handed world No15 fought back to assert his authority and, after 73 minutes, claimed the match 14-17 17-15 15-11 17-15 to reach his 11th PSA Tour final.

The other semi-final was a more straightforward affair as top-seeded Frenchman Gregory Gaultier swept to a 15-5 15-11 15-9 victory over England's third seed Adrian Grant in 49 minutes to celebrate his 10th appearance in a PSA Tour final, and his third this year.

In their last meeting in Peshawar, Gaultier had to fight back from 0-2 down against Mansoor before clinching the CAS International title 15-14 in the fifth in an 82-minute final.

18-Sep
HOME FINALIST GUARANTEED IN KARACHI
The qualifying runs of Pakistani youngsters Yasir Butt and Farhan Mehboob came to an end in the quarter-finals of the CNS International in Karachi, but the host nation is still guaranteed a finalist.

France'sTop seed Gregory Gaultier will contest his semi-final against England's Adrian Grant after they scored 3-0 victories over Pakistan's rising stars, while second seed Mansoor Zaman will meet Farrukh Zaman in the other semi-final.

SEEDS FALL IN CNS OPENER
The day started with the opening ceremony of the CNS International squash championships. The players were introduced with the Chief guest MR Roshan Khan.

While top seed Frenchman Gregory Gaultier moved into the second round, two Pakistani qualifiers Yasir Butt and Farhan Mehboob caused sensations by upsetting Egyptian Omar Elborolossy and Englishman Nick Matthew in the first round.

Gaultier, currently ranked world No. 13 and who just last month clinched the Chief of the Air Staff title in Peshawar, won his opening match against Egypt's Wael El Hindi in straight games 15-10, 15-10, 15-9.

Pakistan Mansoor Zaman, the number two seed and currently ranked world No. 15, was surprised by England Alister Walker, currently ranked world No. 80, by taking the first game 15-13, but Mansoor took firm control in the remaining three games and easily won 15-7, 15-6, 15-6 to move into the quarter finals against Hisham Ashur of Egypt.

Shahid Zaman was beaten by Egyptian Hisham Ashur, currently ranked world No. 58, in four games 11-15, 15-7, 15-8, 15-11. Last year Shahid had made it to the semis before losing to Egyptian Karim Darwish 3-1, while Hisham had lost to fellow countryman Muhammad Abbas 0-3 in the opening round.

Yasir Butt, currently ranked world No. 171, was in fact a lucky winner against world No. 26 Egyptian Omar Elborolossy who had to retire hurt after losing the opening game 2-15, he was also beaten in the first round last year by former world champion Jansher Khan in straight games, while Farhan Mehboob, world No. 140, stunned Englishman Nick Matthew, currently in a well contested five games match which the Pakistani won 6-15, 15-13, 1-15, 15-13, 17-15.

Farrukh Zaman completed the Pakistani upsets,prevailing over Frenchman Renan Lavigne in four games 15-11, 4-15, 15-10, 15-7. Farrukh was beaten in the first round last year by Mansoor Zaman.

Egyptian Muhammad Abbas, last year finalists, easily prevailed over Pakistan Majid Khan in straight games 15-11, 15-6, 15-8. England Adrian Grant was fully extended to five games by Laurens Anjema of the Netherlands before moving into the last eight 8-15, 15-14, 15-10, 10-15, 15-8.
 

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Qualifying complete in Karachi
Today four matches were played on the second day of qualifying rounds.

The first match was played between Laurens Anjema (NED) and Khayal Muhammad (PAK). It was an easy day for Anjema as he won the match in four games.

The second match was played between Yasir Butt (PAK) and Safeer Ullah Khan(PAK). Both players proved their worth as Yasir Butt is National Champion under 19 years and British Open U17 Champion and Safeer Ullah Khan being the British U19 Champion. The match was evenly contested and a dazzling display of squash was witnessed. Both players played splendid strokes all over the court but Yasir Butt kept his nerve in the fifth game and came out as the winner.

The third match was an easy win for Alister Walker (ENG). He kept his cool and showed an excellent sportsmanship through out the match and finished the contest in four games.

The fourth match proved to be a tough competition between two compatriots, Farhan Mehboob and Khalid Atlas. The match was hard fought and was decided in the fifth game. Farhan Mahboob, the Asian Junior Champion, executed wonderful strokes and showed an excellent control over the ball thus winning the match against his tough counterpart.