Squash in Pakistan: History of Legends and the Road Back

There was a time when the word “squash” and the word “Pakistan” were inseparable. The story of squash Pakistan is the story of the greatest dynasty the sport has ever seen — more than 30 British Open titles and 14 World Open titles between 1950 and 1997, and two of the finest players to ever pick up a racket. This is the history of the legends, the reasons for the decline and the road back.

Squash Pakistan: The Dynasty Years

Long before Jahangir Khan, squash Pakistan was already a force. The Khan dynasty of Peshawar — Azam Khan, Roshan Khan, Mohibullah Khan and Qamar Zaman — dominated the British Open, the unofficial world championship of its day, through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Pakistan’s players won the British Open so often that the trophy might as well have had a permanent address in Peshawar. It was the foundation on which everything else was built.

Jahangir Khan: The Greatest Ever

Then came Jahangir Khan. At 17, he became the youngest winner of the World Open in 1981. He went on to win the World Open six times and the British Open a record ten times — consecutively. And then there is the number that still defies belief: 555 consecutive match wins between 1981 and 1986, the longest winning streak by any athlete in any sport in history. For five years, Jahangir Khan simply did not lose. In 2023, Pakistan conferred on him the Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the country’s highest civilian award.

Jansher Khan: The Record Breaker

Just as Jahangir’s powers began to wane, Jansher Khan — no relation — walked in and took the game to another level. Jansher won the World Open a record eight times and the British Open six times, and held the world No. 1 ranking from January 1988 to January 1998 — an unbroken decade at the top. Their head-to-head is the stuff of legend: 36 meetings between 1986 and 1991, Jansher winning 19 and Jahangir 17. Between them, in the 1980s and 90s, they won 16 consecutive British Opens and 14 World Open titles. Jansher, too, received the Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2023.

Why Squash Pakistan Declined

The decline of squash Pakistan after 1997 was not about one thing. The legends retired — Jansher in 2001 — and no system existed to replace them. Squash moved on: Egypt invested in academies, sports science and a professional tour structure, while Pakistan’s federation struggled with funding and organisation. The glass courts of Peshawar that once produced champions fell quiet, and Pakistani players slipped down the world rankings until the country’s name, once synonymous with the sport, barely registered at major events.

The Road Back

Revival is possible, and the first steps are being taken. The Pakistan Squash Federation has leaned on its legends — Jahangir and Jansher have both been involved in mentoring and development efforts — and Pakistan has hosted the World Junior Championships, putting its young players in front of the world’s best. The PSA’s own interviews with Jahangir carry the same message he has always given: the records Pakistan holds are the motivation, and hard work and belief are the way back.

What Comes Next for Squash Pakistan

The honest truth is that squash Pakistan will not produce another Jahangir or Jansher by wishing for it. It needs academies, full-time coaches, international exposure for juniors and a professional circuit at home — the infrastructure Egypt built and Pakistan let fade. But the raw material is still there: the same courts, the same hunger, the same history. When a Pakistani youngster walks onto court with 14 World Open titles in his country’s past, he is not starting from zero. He is carrying the greatest legacy the sport has ever known.

Follow more of Pakistan’s sporting stories in our Pakistan hockey team history and cricket coverage, and read about the stars in our Babar Azam profile.

Jahangir’s own account of the golden era is in this PSA Squash Tour interview, and the 2023 honours are covered by Geo Super’s report on the Nishan-e-Imtiaz awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many World Open titles did Jahangir Khan win? Six World Opens and a record ten British Opens, plus a 555-match winning streak.

How many World Open titles did Jansher Khan win? Eight — a record — plus six British Opens and a decade as world No. 1.

Why did squash decline in Pakistan? The legends retired without a development system to replace them, while rival nations invested heavily in academies and professional structures.

Is Pakistan trying to revive squash? Yes — through junior programmes, legend-led mentoring and hosting international junior events.

Squash in Pakistan: The Road Back to Glory

Squash Pakistan was once a byword for world domination. Rebuilding that legacy is a long project, but the foundations are being laid.

What is the history of squash in Pakistan?

The squash pakistan history is the story of Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, who between them held the world title almost uninterrupted for nearly two decades. The jahangir khan squash records, including a 555-match unbeaten streak, remain among sport’s most astonishing achievements. That golden era made squash Pakistan’s most successful sport and inspired a generation of players.

Where does Pakistan squash stand now?

The pakistan squash federation news in recent years has focused on junior development, international exposure tours, and rebuilding domestic tournaments. The pakistan squash players 2026 crop includes promising juniors competing in British Junior Open and Asian junior events, which is where the next breakthrough must come from.

What will it take to return to the top?

Sustained investment in academies, professional coaching, and regular international competition is the proven formula. Squash Pakistan still carries enormous prestige in the sport’s memory, and a structured pathway from school courts to the PSA tour can restore the country’s place among the elite within a decade. School programmes and provincial tournaments remain the grassroots engine that feeds this entire pipeline with new talent.