Qualifier Muhammad Takes Out Maqbool in FMC International

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Pakistani qualifier Faraz Muhammad sealed his place in the quarter-final of a PSA World Tour event for the first time after bridging an astonishing 263-place World Rankings gap to cause a big upset against number three seed Khawaja Adil Maqbool in the opening round of the 4th FMC International Men’s Squash Championship, PSA M15 tournament.

World No.365 Muhammad started well and took the lead on two occasions, with Maqbool bouncing back both times to level the encounter and set up a deciding fifth game. Both players traded equal blows as the match entered a tense tie-break, but Muhammad put in some powerful shots at to take the crucial points in the latter stages and record an 11-8, 3-11, 11-8, 5-11, 13-11 victory to reach the last eight.

Up next for Muhammad is a meeting with seventh seed Waqar Mehboob after the 24-year-old slalomed past the challenge of Kashif Asif in straight games.

Top seed Farhan Zaman recovered from a game down to see of the threat of United States player Abbas Maniar and he will face off against Israr Ahmed after he dispatched Muhammad Farhan in just 10 minutes.

Tayyab Aslam, the 19-year-old number two seed, secured his quarter-final berth courtesy of a powerful victory over Waqas Mehboob. World No.71 Aslam dropped the first game after a fast start from his fellow Pakistani but he steadied the ship, taking three games without reply to earn his place in the next round. There, he will clash with wildcard Amaad Fareed, who saw off Asim Khan.

The other quarter-final fixture will be contested by Farhan Mehboob and Raees Khan after they defeated Zahir Shah and Abbas Soukat, respectively.

Results – First Round: 4th FMC International Men’s Squash Championship 2016
[1] Farhan Zaman (PAK) bt Abbas Maniar (USA) 3-1: 9-11, 11-6, 11-5, 11-3 (32m)
[6] Israr Ahmed (PAK) bt Muhammad Farhan (PAK) 3-0: 11-4, 11-1, 11-0 (10m)
[Q] Raees Khan (PAK) bt [8] Abbas Shoukat (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 11-4, 11-8 (28m)
[4] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Zahir Shah (PAK) 3-0: 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (25m)
[Q] Faraz Muhammad (PAK) bt [3] Khawaja Adil Maqbool (PAK) 3-2: 11-8, 3-11, 11-8, 5-11, 13-11 (45m)
[7] Waqar Mehboob (PAK) bt [Q] Kashif Asif (PAK) 3-0: 11-9, 11-8, 11-7 (37m)
[WC] Amaad Fareed (PAK) bt [5] Asim Khan (PAK) 3-2: 7-11, 12-10, 11-6, 9-11, 11-9 (63m)
[2] Tayyab Aslam (PAK) bt [Q] Waqas Mehboob (PAK) 3-1: 9-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-7 (57m)

Draw – Quarter-Final
[1] Farhan Zaman (PAK) v [6] Israr Ahmed (PAK)
[Q] Raees Khan (PAK) v [4] Farhan Mehboob (PAK)
[Q] Faraz Muhammad (PAK) v [7] Waqar Mehboob (PAK)
[WC] Amaad Fareed (PAK) v [2] Tayyab Aslam (PAK)