KARACHI, Nov 23: Six-time champions Pakistan have been seeded seventh in this year’s World Men’s Squash Team Championships to be held in the South Indian city of Chennai next month.

The Pakistanis, who last won the world team title in Karachi in 1993, share Pool G with hosts India and minnows Kenya and Bermuda. The biennial event will be played from December 6-12.

The World Squash Federation has given Egypt, last year’s runner-up, the pride of place considering that the team had in its rank the world’s top two ranked players in Amr Shabana and Ramy Ashour.

Defending champion England has been seeded two. James Willstrop, the World No. 5 and one who won the world junior title in Chennai is spearheading England’s challenge with Nick Mathew, another top-ten player as the No. 2 player.

With the best of talent in World squashassured of participating Chennai fans are in for some top draw competition.

France is, for instance, led by the World No. 3 Gregory Gaultier and Australia has David Palmer, the World No. 4. Interestingly Palmer and Anthony Ricketts had won the world men’s doubles title in Chennai earlier.

India is seeded tenth, which is a minor promotion considering it was seeded 12th in Pakistan two years ago when the championship was last held.

The teams have been divided into eight pools. The top two teams from each pool qualify for the round of 16.

The seedings: 1. Egypt, 2. England, 3. France, 4. Australia, 5. Malaysia, 6. Canada, 7. Pakistan, 8. Netherlands, 9. Wales, 10. India, 11. Ireland, 12. South Africa, 13. New Zealand, 14. USA, 15. Hong Kong, 16. Germany, 17 to 24: Austria, Finland, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Scotland, Spain Sweden, 25 to 29: Bermuda, Chinese Taipei, Russia, Sri Lanka, Venezuela.

The groupings: Pool A: Egypt, Germany, Finland, Russia; Pool B: England, Hong Kong, Spain; Pool C: France, USA, Japan, Venezuela; Pool D: Australia, New Zealand, Scotland; Pool E: Malaysia, South Africa, Kuwait, Sri Lanka; Pool F: Canada, Ireland, Austria; Pool G: Pakistan, India, Kenya, Bermuda; Pool H: Netherlands, Wales, Sweden, Chinese-Taipei.—Agencies