Asian Team Squash Championships in Islamabad, 3 to 7 November: Seeding, Draw and Format

Short answer: The 23rd Asian Team Squash Championships run from 3 to 7 November 2026 at the Mushaf Squash Complex, Aabpara, Islamabad. There are separate men's and women's team events. The Asian Squash Federation (ASF) says it will announce first seedings by 13 October, final seedings by 20 October and the draw by 27 October.

Pakistan hosts, and its men's squash team has just won silver at the Asian Games. So this event matters at home. The ASF's championship handbook is the one official document we could read. It answers most "how does it work" questions, and it also shows what is still missing: the list of teams, the start times and the television plan.

We downloaded and read the ASF handbook for this championship on 12 October 2026. It is a pre-event document, so details can change.

The championship is 3 to 7 November at Mushaf Squash Complex

Matches are played at the Mushaf Squash Complex of the Pakistan Sports Board in Aabpara, Islamabad. The handbook says the centre has four air-conditioned glass-back courts and one all-glass court. The Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) organises the event.

The ceremonies are set around the matches. The handbook gives the opening ceremony as 2 November, with details to be confirmed. Medals are awarded on court after the team finals on 7 November.

Seeding comes first, then the draw by 27 October

The ASF Seeding Committee announces the first seedings, with each country's named squad, by 13 October. Countries have 48 hours to protest. Final seedings follow by 20 October, and the draw is published by 27 October. The committee's decision is final.

Seeding matters because the draw is built from it. The strongest teams are kept apart in the pools. Players are listed in order of strength, and each team lists three or four players, using rankings and recent results.

1. 13 October: first seedings and squads announced.
2. 15 October: protests due, if the first seedings come out on 13 October, because the handbook allows 48 hours.
3. 20 October: final seedings, no later than this date.
4. 27 October: draws published, no later than this date.
5. 2 November: players' passports checked and the team managers meet at 5 pm.

Each tie is played with up to four players

A team may bring a maximum of four players and two officials. Each team lists at least three players. A tie needs at least two players present to start. If a player is missing, the others move up the order and the empty match is forfeited.

Teams are placed in pools by seeding. The handbook says that all teams then play off for a final order, except that there is no play-off for third and fourth places. The handbook does not say how medals are shared, so check the draw and rules when they are published.

The equipment rules are listed too. The ball is the Dunlop Revelation Pro XX with the double yellow dot, and a white ball is used on the glass court. The tin height is 17 inches for both the men's and women's events.

Pool rankings are decided by ties, then head to head

The order in each pool is set first by the number of ties won. If two teams are level, the result between them decides. If three or more are level, matches won decide, and then game difference and point difference. A lottery is the last step.

This helps when you read a pool table. Look at "ties won" before you look at points. A team that wins two ties with 2-1 scores can finish above a team that won one tie 3-0.

Fans: television, tickets and entry are not yet confirmed

The handbook says television coverage is "to be confirmed". It has no section on spectator tickets or public entry. The organiser's press office is at the venue, and the championship office is open from 8 am to 8 pm from 1 to 8 November.

Until the PSF or ASF publishes a broadcast plan, do not rely on a stream link from social media. The same is true for tickets: pay nobody who offers "passes" before the PSF names its own process.

For other squash dates in Pakistan this season, see our Pakistan squash calendar for 2026-27. It lists the CAS International in Islamabad and the national junior events. For the team's recent form, read how Pakistan lost the Asian Games final to Malaysia and took silver. Squash also won two bronze medals at the Asian Games.

Teams that travel to Islamabad

The handbook is not a list of entries. It does not name the countries that confirmed. Teams had to return the participation form by 4 September and the player forms by 30 September, so the entry list exists, but we have not seen it published.

Entry cost US$ 2,000 for each men's and each women's team, paid by 30 September. That fee covers three rooms for six nights, from check-in on 2 November to check-out on 8 November. Extra rooms are US$ 120 a night. Visas can take up to two months, so the handbook urges early application.

Common questions

When are the Asian Team Squash Championships in Islamabad?

They run from 3 to 7 November 2026. The opening ceremony is set for 2 November and the team finals end on 7 November.

Where are the matches played?

At the Mushaf Squash Complex of the Pakistan Sports Board in Aabpara, Islamabad. It has four glass-back courts and one all-glass court.

When will the draw be published?

No later than 27 October 2026, according to the handbook. First seedings are due by 13 October and final seedings by 20 October.

Will the championship be on television?

It is not confirmed. The handbook says television coverage is "to be confirmed". We will not name a channel until the PSF or ASF does.

How many players are in a team?

A team lists three or four players and may bring up to four players and two officials. A tie can start with a minimum of two players.

Can fans buy tickets?

No ticket process is in the handbook. Do not buy from anyone until the PSF publishes one.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

We read the Asian Squash Federation's 23rd Asian Team Championships handbook on 12 October 2026. We also used the Pakistan Sports Board's 2026-27 squash calendar, which lists the same dates and venue. We did not find an entry list, a match schedule, a ticket page or a broadcast announcement.