Lahore Local Locks Out Alex

Unseeded Pakistani Khayal Muhammad took full local advantage in the quarter-finals of the PTCL Pakistan Circuit No2 Championship when he overturned a two-game deficit to upset third-seeded Welshman Alex Gough in the PSA Tour event at the Punjab Squash Complex in his hometown Lahore.

The Lahore-born 21-year-old - ranked 137 in the world - battled for 83 minutes to beat the Welsh champion ranked more than 100 places higher 9-11 3-11 11-10 11-7 11-7.

After his second giant-killing victory in the event, Muhammad now faces top-seeded compatriot Shahid Zaman, the world No17 whose opponent Mohamed Essam A Hafiz, the fifth seed from Egypt, retired injured with the score standing at 11-0 10-11 11-10 6-0 in the favourite's favour.

Shahid's cousin Mansoor Zaman, the fourth seed, has also reserved a place in the semi-finals after toppling France's seventh seed Stephane Galifi 10-11 11-8 11-8 11-6 in 52 minutes.

The left-hander from Peshawar now faces No2 seed Mohd Azlan Iskandar after the Malaysian ended hopes of an all-Pakistani semi-final line-up by beating qualifier Farrukh Zaman, also a cousin of the other Zamans, 11-10 11-4 11-8.

Quarter-finals:
[1] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt [5] Mohamed Essam A Hafiz (EGY) 11-0, 10-11, 11-10, 6-0 ret. (30m)
Khayal Muhammad (PAK) bt [3] Alex Gough (WAL) 9-11, 3-11, 11-10, 11-7, 11-7 (83m)
[4] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) bt [7] Stephane Galifi (FRA) 10-11 (0-2), 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 (52m)
[2] Mohd Azlan Iskandar (MAS) bt [Q] Farrukh Zaman (PAK) 11-10, 11-4, 11-8 (43m)