Frankcomb Foils Koukal In Islamabad

Australian Aaron Frankcomb upset fourth seed Jan Koukal in the quarter-finals of the CAS International to become the only non-Pakistani to reach the last four of the $30,000 PSA Tour squash event at the Mushaf Squash Complex in the Pakistan capital Islamabad.

The 23-year-old sixth seed from Hobart defeated the Czech number one 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 in 59 minutes - and will now face favourite Aamir Atlas Khan, the 17-year-old defending champion who battled for 71 minutes to overcome fellow Pakistani Yasir Butt 11-7, 6-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7.

The other semi-final will be a local derby between second seed Mansoor Zaman and third seed Farhan Mehboob, both from Peshawar. Zaman despatched Egypt's Mohd Ali Anwar Reda 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 in just 19 minutes, while Mehboob ended the brave run of Mohamed El Shorbagy, beating the unseeded 17-year-old Egyptian 11-7, 11-5, 11-3.

Zaman, the former world No11 now ranked just two places above Mehboob, will be hoping to avenge his shock first round loss to his compatriot in the event last year.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Aamir Atlas Khan (PAK) bt [5] Yasir Butt (PAK) 11-7, 6-11, 10-12, 11-7, 11-7 (71m)
[6] Aaron Frankcomb (AUS) bt [4] Jan Koukal (CZE) 5-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9 (59m)
[3] Farhan Mehboob (PAK) bt Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY) 11-7, 11-5, 11-3 (26m)
[2] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [7] Mohd Ali Anwar Reda (EGY) 11-3, 11-2, 11-3 (19m)