Nicol, who was the outstanding player in the world for most of the last decade until his retirement, has a strong association with Pontefract, having won Commonwealth gold in the doubles event with club professional Lee Beachill in Manchester in 2002 and Melbourne in 2006, when he also won the singles title.


He also led England to World Team success in Islamabad, Pakistan, a team that included Beachill and another world-ranked Pontefract star, James Willstrop.
Nicol has not been lost to the sport since his retirement.
He is a director of Evantis, which promotes both the English Open and Canary Wharf Classic - both won by Willstrop last season - works in promotions for racquet company Prince and has recently joined Beachill on the board of the PSA, the players' governing body.



Nicol is not only renowned for his achievements as a player but for the way he conducted himself both on and off the court.
A presentation will be made to him during the evening, making him an honorary member of Pontefract Squash Club, a singular honour only previously accorded to the great Australian Sarah Fitzgerald, a five-time world champion.
Saurav Ghosal, now able to commit himself fully after graduating from Leeds University, goes to the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, where he is fourth qualifier.


Beachill goes to Cairo soon afterwards for the Super Series Petrosport Open, where he will be seeded 5/8.
Willstrop has opted not to play because of the timing of the event and fellow world-ranked players David Palmer (Australia) and Thierry Lincou (France) are also giving it a miss.