Zaman brings home the CAS title in Islamabad
Pakistan’s Noor Zaman claimed his second Copper-level title of the 2025/26 PSA Squash Tour season after defeating compatriot Hamza Khan in a five-game thriller at the CAS Serena Hotels International Squash Championships 2025 in Islamabad.
Zaman, 21, arrived at the Mushaf Squash Complex in fine form following a title victory at the NASH Cup 2025 in September, and completed his dream week in front of his home fans with a big comeback win by a 9-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-4, 11-8 scoreline.
His opponent, former World Junior Champion Khan, looked well set to claim his first-ever World Events title after taking an early 2-0 lead in the final, but Zaman refused to go down without a fight. At 7-7 in the third game, it was Zaman who managed to take the ascendancy, claiming four straight points to reduce the arrears.
After bursting out of the blocks quickly on his way to an 11-4 fourth game win, the subsequent deciding game followed in similar fashion, with Zaman accelerating into a quick-fire 10-3 lead. And despite seeing five match balls slip through his grasp, the 21-year-old eventually got over the line at the sixth time of asking, clinching the win after 46 minutes of play.
Quarters
Unseeded Pakistan duo Hamza Khan and Nasir Iqbal continued their superb runs at the CAS Serena Hotels International Squash Championships as the pair gatecrashed the semi-finals of the Copper-level event in Islamabad.
World No.100 Khan, a former World Junior Champion, toppled top seed Karim El Hammamy by an 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 12-10 scoreline to advance to his first World Events semi-final on the PSA Squash Tour.
Khan will face off against No.6 seed David Bernet in the last four after the Swiss player came through a thrilling five-game duel with Egypt’s Khaled Labib.
World No.70 Bernet, who with victory, also reached his maiden World Events semi-final, was forced to fight back from 2-1 down to end Labib’s run. The 59-minute encounter went deep into a gripping fifth game, with Bernet at one point seeing two match balls slip through his grasp. However, the 20-year-old maintained his composure in the subsequent tie-break to walk off with a 7-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-5, 12-10 victory.
It will be an all-Pakistan affair in the second semi-final after the unseeded Iqbal and No.2 seed Noor Zaman both claimed respective straight game wins over No.3 seed Moustafa Elsirty and No.8 seed Yassin Shohdy.
World No.179 Iqbal delivered potentially the biggest upset of the day as he overcame World No.40 Moustafa Elsirty by an 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 scoreline, while 21-year-old Zaman – winner of the Copper-level NASH Cup in September – continued his fine start to the season with a 24-minute win over Shohdy.
Round Two
Three unseeded players advanced to the quarter-finals of the Copper-level CAS Serena Hotels International Squash Championships 2025, with Pakistan duo Nasir Iqbal and Hamza Khan, as well as Khaled Labib, all scoring upset wins.
Hamza Khan, a former World Junior Champion, continued his fine form in Islamabad as he fought back from a game behind to defeat compatriot and No.5 seed Muhammad Asim Khan. Despite losing the opener 11-8, and falling behind in the early stages of the second game, the 20-year-old rallied impressively to set up a quarter-final tie with top seed Karim El Hammamy, who got his campaign underway with a four-game win over Tomotaka Endo.
Elsewhere, fellow Pakistan player Nasir Iqbal overturned No.7 seed Ibrahim Elkabbani by an 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-4 scoreline to continue his search for the Copper-level title. The 31-year-old will now face off against No.3 seed Moustafa Elsirty for a spot in the last four.
World No.126 Khaled Labib was the other unseeded player to claim an upset win, as the Egyptian got the better of Hong Kong’s Henry Leung in a thrilling five-game duel. In a match which was ultimately decided by the smallest of margins, it was Labib who saved two match balls in the final stages of the fifth game to claim an 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 12-14, 14-12 win.
Other winners on day two of the event included Pakistan No.2 seed Noor Zaman, Swiss No.6 seed David Bernet and Egyptian No.8 seed Yassin Shody, who claimed respective wins over Adam Hawal, Anas Shah and Yassin Shohdy.
Round One
The CAS Serena Hotels International Squash Championships 2025 got underway yesterday, a men’s Copper event in Islamabad, Pakistan. Eight round one matches took place at the Mushaf Squash Centre with players looking to secure spots in round two to take on the top seeds.
Five Pakistan players featured in the opening round, with four progressing through in front of a home crowd. Former World Junior Champion Hamza Khan scored the first home victory as he defeated Egypt’s Seif Shenawy in three convincing games. Muhammad Ammad and Anas Ali Shah were the next Pakistan players to progress to RD2 as they scored upsets over Chi Him Wong and Ziad Ibrahim. Former World No.35 Nasir Iqbal was the last to advance as he needed four game and 43 minutes to beat Bryan Tze Kang Lim.
Egyptian teenager and Egyptian Open star Adam Hawal got his campaign underway, beating Tayyab Aslam 3-0. The 17-year-old scored one of the biggest upsets in PSA history earlier in the season as he beat World No.2 Paul Coll. He’ll be looking to show his quality once again today as he takes on No.2 seed Noor Zaman.
The other round one winners were Japan’s Tomotaka Endo, Khaled Labib and Mohammad Syafiq Kamal. Endo came through a closely contested three game clash with Ming Hong Tang, Labib needed three games to beat Swiss Louai Hafez, whilst Kamal needed four game and 37 minutes to upset Viktor Brytus.
