Islamabad, Dec 10: In their last group match in the World Team Squash Championship, Pakistan’s squash team put on an outstanding display, defeating Italy 3-0. By demonstrating their supremacy on the court, Noor Zaman, Nasir Iqbal, and Asim Khan secured Pakistan’s top spot in Group H and advanced to the tournament’s knockout stage.
All three players won their matches in straight sets, leaving no space for uncertainty in the sixth-seeded Pakistani team’s match against Italy. With scores of 11-8, 11-4, and 11-7, Asim Khan defeated Umar Zaki Masood of Italy comfortably to start the match. The tone for the remainder of the match was established by Khan’s aggressive play and accurate shooting.
Then, with scores of 11-4, 11-7, and 11-5, Noor Zaman, the silver medallist and emerging talent from Pakistan, defeated Lorenzo Staurengo. Zaman effortlessly destroyed his opponent, demonstrating his poise and tactical skill.
In the decisive match, former British Junior Open champion Nasir Iqbal provided Daniel De Bartolomeo with a masterclass, defeating him 11-2, 11-1, and 11-1. Iqbal finished the sweep for Pakistan with unrelenting speed and accuracy that left his opponent speechless.
With this decisive victory, Pakistan secured the top spot in Group H, advanced to the knockout stages with confidence, and concluded the group stage with three straight wins. In a hotly contested 2-1 victory over Hong Kong on Monday, Pakistan cemented their route to the knockout stage.
All eyes will be on Noor Zaman, Nasir Iqbal, and Asim Khan as the competition goes on to see if they can maintain their momentum and win Pakistan’s first World Team Squash Championship in more than thirty years.
