I’ve written a few player profiles recently on some of the younger names coming through the game, and it’s really made me think about where squash might be heading over the next few years.
There’s a clear shift happening, with a new generation starting to establish themselves on the PSA Tour.
One player who’s been catching my attention more and more is Pakistan’s Noor Zaman.
With the history Pakistan has in squash, it’s always exciting when a young player begins to make real progress, and Noor seems to be doing exactly that.
For this article, I wanted to take a closer look at his background, his rise so far, and what his future in the game might look like.
Noor's Background
I often say this when writing about younger players, but it can be quite tricky to piece together a full and accurate background, especially when they’re still early in their professional careers.
That said, Noor Zaman’s story is one that already has a very strong foundation.
Born in 2004 in Peshawar, Pakistan, Noor comes from one of the most well-known squash families in the world.
He is the grandson of former World Champion Qamar Zaman, which immediately places a certain level of expectation on his shoulders.
Growing up in that environment, Noor was exposed to high-level squash from a very young age, and it didn’t take long for him to start making a name for himself on the junior circuit.
He represented Pakistan in various international junior events and consistently showed that he had the potential to compete at a high level.
One of his standout achievements came when he won the World Under-23 Squash Championship, a title that really put him on the map and highlighted him as one of the leading young players coming through the men’s game.
For a player still early in his career, having that kind of title under his belt is a strong indicator that he has the tools to transition successfully into the professional ranks.
Given both his family background and his early results, it’s clear that Noor Zaman is part of a new generation aiming to bring Pakistan back into the conversation at the top level of world squash.
A Brief History of Pakistani Squash
Before going any further, I thought it would be worth briefly touching on Pakistan’s history in squash, because it adds a lot of context to Noor Zaman’s journey.
At one point in time, Pakistan wasn’t just competitive in squash, it completely dominated the sport.
The two names that stand out above all others are Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, who between them ruled the game for well over a decade.
Jahangir is often regarded as one of the greatest athletes in any sport, famously going on a 555-match unbeaten run, which is still one of the most remarkable records in sporting history.
Jansher followed on from that era and continued Pakistan’s dominance, winning multiple World Open titles and maintaining that presence at the very top of the game.
Beyond those two, Pakistan produced a long line of world-class players, and for many years, it was seen as the powerhouse of squash.
However, over the past couple of decades, that dominance has faded, with countries like Egypt taking over as the leading force in the sport.
That’s why players like Noor Zaman are so interesting.
They’re not just rising through the rankings individually; they’re part of a potential shift that could see Pakistan re-establish itself on the global squash stage.
His Professional Career So Far
Noor Zaman turned professional in 2019, and since then, he’s been steadily working his way up the PSA rankings.
As it stands, Noor sits at World No.28, which is a strong position for a player still early in his career and continuing to gain experience at the top level.
He’s played 59 tournaments, winning 88 of his 141 matches, reaching 11 finals and picking up 5 PSA titles along the way.
Those are solid returns and show a player who is regularly competing deep into events rather than falling away early.
That win at the World Under-23 Squash Championship in 2025 was one of his standout moments for me, that's when he popped onto my radar.
Titles like that are often a strong indicator that a player is ready to make the jump into the higher tiers of the PSA Tour, and it’s no surprise that his ranking has continued to improve since then.
Quarter-final runs at tournaments like the Optasia Championships and the Karachi Open show that he’s capable of competing with higher-ranked players, while appearances in events like the PSA World Championships and Windy City Open suggest he’s becoming a regular feature on the main tour.
On top of that, his earlier achievements, including a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships and a silver at the 2023 Asian Games, highlight that he’s been performing on big stages for a number of years now.
On the PSA Squash Tour, he's already taken some impressive scalps including Leonel Cardenas, Mazen Hesham, Fares Dessouky, and Melvil Scianimanico.
The trajectory he’s on suggests there’s plenty more to come.
Image credit: Steve Cubbins
Zaman's Style of Play
I’ve watched a fair bit of Noor Zaman over the past year or so, and he’s definitely one of those players who stands out straight away.
There’s something slightly unorthodox about the way he plays, and I mean that in a very positive sense.
He’s got incredibly quick hands and a very loose, relaxed swing, which allows him to hold the ball that fraction longer and change direction at the last moment.
It makes him very difficult to read, and you can often see opponents hesitate or get caught moving the wrong way.
A friend of mine watched him play Leonel Cardenas in person at Optasia and said it was one of the craziest performances he'd ever seen.
That unpredictability is a big part of what makes him so effective.
He’s not afraid to play different shots from all areas of the court, and because of that, rallies against him can feel quite uncomfortable and chaotic at times.
One thing that’s really stood out to me is his ability on the volley, particularly when he’s looking to take the ball short.
He’s able to take a huge amount of pace off the ball and just feather it into the front corners.
It’s not just a standard drop shot either, there’s real quality in how softly he plays it.
The ball tends to die very quickly and deep in the front corners, often forcing his opponent to take that extra step forward, which, at the top level, can be the difference between getting there comfortably and being under real pressure.
That control in the front court pairs nicely with the fact that he’s also got good pace and movement around the court.
He’s quick into the front, recovers well, and has the ability to retrieve balls that many players would struggle to get back into play.
On top of that, he’s more than capable of injecting power when needed, so he’s not reliant on just one style of play.
If anything, that’s what makes him quite dangerous.
You’re not just dealing with deception or just dealing with speed or just dealing with touch, you’re dealing with a mix of all three.
From a coaching perspective, players like this can be quite tricky to play against because they don’t always follow predictable patterns.
You can’t settle into a rhythm as easily, and that often leads to rushed decisions or poor positioning.
Overall, Noor’s style is creative, deceptive, and slightly unpredictable, and as he continues to refine that balance between flair and structure, it could become a very serious weapon against the top players on tour.
He's become a real one to watch for the crowds too, which is always awesome for the sport as a whole.
Whenever he plays, I make sure to watch.
Photo credit: Steve Cubbins
Rivalries & Matchups
Since Noor Zaman is still relatively early in his professional career, he doesn’t quite have any defined rivalries just yet.
That’s pretty normal at this stage.
Rivalries tend to develop once players are consistently meeting in the latter stages of bigger events, and Noor is just starting to edge closer to that level.
That said, there are already a few matchups that give a good indication of where his game currently stands.
One that stands out to me is his recent encounters with Mohamed ElShorbagy.
They’ve played each other a couple of times this season, and on both occasions, Noor has pushed him hard, losing in a competitive four-game match and then a very tight five-set battle.
For a player of ElShorbagy’s experience and pedigree, those kinds of results are a strong sign that Noor isn’t far off.
As cliche as it might sound, matches like that are often less about the result and more about the learning opportunity.
Going up against someone who has spent so many years at the very top of the game exposes the small margins that still need to be improved, whether that’s shot selection in key moments, physical endurance, or managing momentum swings within a match.
It also builds belief.
When you realise you can compete with players of that calibre, it changes your mindset heading into future matches.
As Noor continues to climb the rankings and go deeper into bigger tournaments, it’s likely that more of these repeat matchups will start to appear.
And that’s usually when rivalries begin to form.
What's Next For Noor?
With Noor Zaman now sitting just outside the top 25, the next step in his progression feels pretty clear.
It’s about breaking into that top 20 and starting to establish himself as a regular threat in the later rounds of the bigger events.
Personally, I’d love to see him push into the top 20 before the end of the season.
Whether that’s realistic or not is another question.
Of course, most professionals that get asked, say they don't think about rankings as it's just an extra distraction. This is definitely the right mindset, however, I'm sure it must cross their minds at times ...
There are still some big events coming up, including El Gouna, the PSA World Championships, the British Open, and the PSA Tour Finals, so there are definitely opportunities there to pick up some serious ranking points.
Looking at El Gouna specifically, Noor has a tough but very winnable first-round match against France's Auguste Dussourd.
If he can come through that, there’s a strong chance he could face Mohamed ElShorbagy again, this also rides on whether or not Mo gets past a very in-form Timothy Brownell.
Given how close their previous matches have been, you’d expect Noor to believe he’s capable of causing an upset against Mo if he gets another shot.
More broadly, what I’d really like to see from Noor over the next few months is a couple of standout wins against top 10 players.
If he did end up beating Mo, that would tick that box as Mo is currently ranked at World No.10.
These “scalps” are often what kickstart the next phase of a player’s career.
Alongside that, pushing deep into a Silver or even a Gold-level event would be a huge milestone and a real statement that he’s ready to compete at that level consistently.
If he doesn’t quite crack the top 20 by the end of this season, I’d be very surprised if he’s not there within the first half of the next one.
The trajectory is there, the tools are there, and he’s already shown he can compete with some of the best.
It’s now just a case of putting it all together over a sustained period.
If he does that, there’s every chance we’ll be talking about Noor Zaman in a very different light this time next year!
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