Hashim Khan

Early life Hashim Khan was born in Nawakille, a small village near Peshawar in modern-day Pakistan, to an ethnic Pashtun family, between 1910 and 1914. Hashim Khan's exact birthdate is unknown. According to his family members, he turned 100 on 1 July 2014 (the family celebrated his birthday on 1 July). Khan's father, Abdullah Khan was chief steward at a British officers' club in Peshawar. He brought Hashim when he was 8 to the squash courts which were used by military men to relax, when not performing duties. Khan's father died in a car accident when he was 11,

Personal life Hashim Khan had a total of 12 children. His eldest son Sharif Khan became a player on the North American hardball squash circuit in the 1970s, winning a record 12 North American Open titles.

British Open final appearances Wins (7) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1951 Mahmoud Karim 9–5, 9–0, 9–0 1952 Mahmoud Karim 9–5, 9–7, 9–0 1953 R.B.R. Wilson 9–2, 8–10, 9–1, 9–0 1954 Azam Khan 6–9, 9–6, 9–6, 7–9, 9–5 1955 Azam Khan 9–7, 7–9, 9–7, 5–9, 9–7 1956 Roshan Khan 9–4, 9–2, 5–9, 9–5 1958 Azam Khan 9–7, 6–9, 9–6, 9–7 Runners-up (1) Year Opponent in final Score in final 1957 Roshan Khan 6–9, 9–5, 9–2, 9–1

Awards and recognition Pride of Performance Award by the President of Pakistan in 1958 Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam by the Government of Pakistan in 1959

Death and legacy On 18 August 2014, Khan died in his home in Aurora, Colorado due to congestive heart failure. He was widely believed to be 100 years old.

Pakistan Squash Federation President Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt expressed grief over his death and remembered him for his achievements.

Other Pakistani players like Jahangir Khan, Qamar Zaman and officials like the Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif and Pakistani President also offered condolences and commended Hashim Khan. "Within the game, he was an iconic player, arguably the greatest player ever," said James Zug, a leading historian of Squash. In Pakistan, Hashim Khan was a hero and a symbol of national pride.