Former World No11 says patience, fitness and experience key to squash star’s rise
KARACHI: Pakistan’s former international squash player Mansoor Zaman has said that the rising star Noor Zaman has the talent to become one of the world’s leading players but must improve his patience, fitness and match management to fulfill his potential.
Speaking to The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview from Peshawar, Mansoor praised Noor’s technical ability and physical attributes but said his tendency to rush points and finish games too quickly often resulted in lapses of concentration and costly mistakes.
“Noor is doing well. He is very talented and has good quality, but he lacks patience. He is in a hurry and tries to end the game with speed,” Mansoor said.
“It is the wrong thing in him because, in this way, he loses his focus and concentration and then makes mistakes,” said Mansoor, a former World No11.
Mansoor said Noor had the potential to compete with the world’s best once he learned to control the pace of his game and maintain his composure under pressure.
“He has good quality, he has shots with him and his reach and run are superb, but he lacks a little bit in stamina,” he said.
“If he works on his fitness, then I think he will soon find a place in the top ten.”
Noor reached the quarter-finals of the Silicon Valley Open in Redwood City, California, before losing 3-1 to Egypt’s Mohamed ElShorbagy in the Professional Squash Association Gold tournament.
The Pakistani opened his campaign with a 3-1 victory over Malaysia’s Beng Hee Ming before producing an impressive performance against Egypt’s Karim Gawad, a former world number two, who was ranked world number four while entering into the tournament.
Noor won the opening two games against Gawad 11-9 and 11-7, lost the third 11-9, but recovered to take the fourth 11-6 and secure his place in the last eight.
His run ended against fifth seed ElShorbagy, who recovered after dropping the opening game to win 8-11, 12-10, 11-8, 11-8.
Mansoor described the victory over Gawad as an important milestone, saying it could help Noor improve his ranking and secure more favourable draws in future competitions.
“It was a big win in the US, as it will help improve his ranking and onwards he will get easy draws,” he said. “His second game in the US was against world number four and he upset Karim Gawad. It is a good sign for him,” Mansoor said.
Mansoor was one of the finest squash players of his era. He is also a two-time Asian champion.
Mansoor said experience remained a key difference between Noor and the established players at the top of the rankings, who had competed more frequently against elite opposition.
“He has the quality in his game like a world champion. He needs experience,” he said. “The top ten players are more experienced as they play more matches. Noor has just got the chance and now he plays with top ten players.”
He urged Noor to continue working on his fitness and consistency, adding that sustained effort could help the Pakistani establish himself among the sport’s leading players.
“He needs a little bit of hard work and there is nothing impossible. He can become the world’s top player,” Mansoor said.
Noor Zaman, who was also part of Pakistan’s silver-medal winning team in Nagoya Asian Games, is currently World No 34.