Squash: Jahangir answers call of country

JAHANGIR KHAN, the most successful squash player of all time, begins his third and most surprising comeback after nine months away from competition in the world's second richest tournament, the Qatar International, which starts today.

Jahangir, British Open champion a record 10 times, believes he can help Pakistan regain the world team title from Australia in his home city in Karachi later in the month, and is allowing himself just two warm-up tournaments - the Dohar event and the World Open from 18-23 November.

Jahangir, 30 next month, has been bothered by a back ailment and weight problems for two years, and is thus taking a considerable risk with his reputation by deciding to compete again. However, the animosity between the Pakistanis and the Australians has been unusually strong in recent years, and with the lack of younger compatriots to replace him he has been under pressure from many directions to turn out for his country just once more.

Peter Marshall, the first Englishman seeded to reach the semi-finals of the World Open, is also seeded fourth in Qatar and should meet the English national champion Phil Whitlock in the second round.