Khan pips Selby in Commonwealth Games quarter-final

In a contest which would have been gripping even if it wasn't for the extra layer of internal politics involved, Amir's younger brother Haroon Khan - rejected by Team GB and in Delhi representing Pakistan - beat Wales' Andrew Selby in today's Commonwealth Games flyweight (52kg) quarter-final contest.

Khan (listed as Haroon Iqbal), pipped Selby on countback after a high quality contest finished 3-3.

A cracking left hand from Khan in the opening seconds scored.  Selby landed a super eye-catching left-right combination only one of which was registered by this dreadful scoring system.  Round one finished 1-1.

Khan was lively, aggressive and on top at the start of the second round and scored with a right hand whilst Selby was advancing.  Selby, with great switch hitting movement, was finding Khan difficult to pin down but caught him with a straight left just before the round's conclusion. 2-2.

To maintain the contest's symmetry, Khan was off the mark first yet again in the last with a right hand and Selby retaliated with the same.  The last minute was gripping as it was obvious that whoever scored next would be guaranteed a medal whilst the loser was merely guaranteed a trip back home.  Khan appeared to tire a little and in the very last seconds was content to retreat whilst Selby boxed on the front foot.  The contest concluded 3-3.

Then came the lottery of countback and Khan/Iqbal's hand was raised.  Seeing as Selby squeaked past England's Tommy Stubbs in the previous round after that finished 1-1, he can have little complaint about the system - though it's natural he will. 

As for Haroon Khan and his father Shah, who has recently been outspoken about the selection process for Team GB, this will give them the mandate to crow all they like.