WORLD SQUASH NEWS

RESULTS: COAS Squash International, Islamabad, Pakistan

Semi-finals:
[3] Shahid Zaman (PAK) bt [1] Adrian Grant (ENG) 11-8, 4-11, 9-11, 11-7, 11-5 (59m)
[6] Joey Barrington (ENG) bt [4] Mansoor Zaman (PAK) 11-2, 11-9, 11-5 (12m)

Barrington & Zaman To Contest COAS Final

Pakistan's Shahid Zaman and England's Joey Barrington will meet in an unexpected final of the COAS Squash International in Pakistan after contrasting upsets in the semi-finals in Islamabad.

Remarkably, it took just 12 minutes for Joey Barrington, the sixth seed, to crush fourth-seeded Pakistani Mansoor Zaman 11-2 11-9 11-5 to reach the seventh PSA Tour final of his career.  It was a lacklustre performance by the local left-hander who later complained of a knee problem.

Certainly the match did little to evoke memories of the titanic battles both players' fathers - former British Open champions Jonah Barrington and Qamar Zaman - enjoyed in the seventies.

The other semi-final also saw a Pakistan/England upset - but this time local hero Shahid Zaman, the third seed, came through in five games against top seed and defending champion Adrian Grant. 

In a repeat of last year's final, Shahid fought back from 1/2 down to beat Grant, the world No15 from London, 11-8 4-11 9-11 11-7 11-5 in 59 minutes.

Shahid, the world No20 from Quetta and a cousin of the defeated Mansoor, is looking for his second PSA title this year - after winning the Virginia Professional Championship in January - and is appearing in his eighth final.