Pakistan’s impressive run at the Asian Doubles Squash Championship continued in thrilling fashion on Wednesday as the pair of Noor Zaman and Nasir Iqbal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Malaysia to seal their place in the Final.
In a high-pressure semifinal clash played in Kuching, the Pakistani duo overcame Malaysia’s Syafiq Kamal and Duncan Lee with a come-from-behind 10-11, 11-9, 11-9 win, showcasing grit, resilience, and smart tactical play in the key moments of the match.
The first game saw the Malaysians edge ahead narrowly, taking it 11-10 after an intense exchange at the front of the court. But Noor and Nasir kept their composure, adjusting their strategy, which paid off as they clawed back to take the next two games by identical 11-9 margins, punching their ticket to the championship match.
Pakistan will face arch-rivals India in the Asian Doubles Squash Final, whose number one seeded duo of Velavan Senthilkumar and Abhay Singh earned a 2-0 win over Hong Kong China’s Ming Hong Tang and Chi Him Wong.
For Pakistan, this final is not just about silverware. It is a statement of resurgence. With Noor Zaman, the reigning World U-23 champion, combining with the experienced Nasir Iqbal, the partnership is starting to look like one that could serve Pakistan squash well on the doubles circuit in the years ahead.
The final between Pakistan and India will be played on Thursday. Regardless of the outcome, Pakistan’s place in the final underlines a return to form in a format that is gaining prominence on the Asian squash calendar.