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Qazi Ashfaq

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Qazi Ashfaq
Ashfaq before the match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan, 1997 Gold Cup
Personal information
Full name Qazi Mohamed Ashfaq
Date of birth 12 December 1967
Place of birth Hasan Abdal, Pakistan
Date of death 13 November 2001(2001-11-13) (aged 33)
Place of death Lahore, Pakistan
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Wohaib
1989–1990 Punjab
1990–1996 WAPDA
1996–2000 Allied Bank
International career
1991–1995 Pakistan U23
1989–1999 Pakistan (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Pakistan
South Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1989 Islamabad Team competition
Gold medal – first place 1991 Colombo Team competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Qazi Ashfaq (12 December 1967 – 13 November 2001) was a Pakistani footballer who played as a forward and captained the national football team. Considered one of the best Pakistani footballers of his generation, he was praised for his skill, speed, and leadership in the 1990s.[1] He was the author of the opening goal in the final against Maldives, which saw the reigning champions Pakistan successfully defend their title at the 1991 South Asian Games.[2]

Early life

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Ashfaq was born on 12 December 1967 in Hassan Abdal, in the Attock district of Pakistan, with his family originally belonging from Lakki Marwat in the neighbouring North Western Frontier Province.[3]

Club career

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In 1990, Ashfaq featured in the National Youth Football Championship.[4][5][6]

Ashfaq initially played for Wohaib FC until joining Punjab, where he won the National Football Championship and played in the 1989–90 Asian Club Championship.

Later on, he joined WAPDA where he won his second league title and played in the 1991 Asian Club Championship.[3]

Ashfaq played a key role in helping Allied Bank football club where he was vice-captain from 1996 to 2000, winning the National Challenge Cup in 1996, 1998 and 1999.[3] He also won the National Football Championship twice with Allied Bank, first in 1997, and then in 1999.[7][8]

International career

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Ashfaq joined the Pakistan national under-23 team for the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Qualifiers. He made his international debut on 22 October 1989 against Nepal in the 1989 South Asian Games. The match played at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad was tied 0–0.[9] Ashfaq scored his first international goal in a 2–0 victory against Maldives in his second game, as Pakistan passed the group stages and won the title by defeating Bangladesh in the final.[10]

In the subsequent 1991 South Asian Games in Colombo under the captainship of Ghulam Sarwar, Ashfaq scored against Bangladesh,[11] qualifying Pakistan for the final against Maldives. In the dying minutes of the game, Ashfaq scored the first goal in the 83rd minute before Mohammad Nauman Khan, finishing the match by a 2–0 victory for Pakistan, and winning their second title in the competition.[2][12][13]

Ashfaq also represented the national team in the inaugural 1993 SAFF Championship in Lahore, 1995 in Colombo, 1997 in Kathmandhu,[14][15] and 1999 in Goa. He was also present in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[16]

He was the captain of the national team from 1996 until 1999 before Haroon Yousaf.[17] Under his captaincy, Pakistan achieved the bronze medal at the 1997 SAFF Gold Cup.[18]

Death

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Ashfaq passed away on 13 November 2001 at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, after fighting cancer for two years.[1] At the time of his death, he was reportedly wearing the shirt of his club Allied Bank, for which he had played in the later years of his career.

Career statistics

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International goals

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Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Qazi Ashfaq
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 24 October 1989 Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan  Maldives 2–0 2–0 1989 South Asian Games [10]
2 24 December 1991 Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka  Bangladesh 1–0 1–0 1991 South Asian Games [11]
3 29 December 1991 Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka  Maldives 1–0 2–0 1991 South Asian Games [2]

Honours

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Punjab

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Allied Bank

Pakistan

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Ahsan, Ali (23 December 2010). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part III". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "5th South Asian Federation Games 1991 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Qazi Ashfaq (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  4. ^ "U-18 Football Championship starts". Brecorder. 28 August 2007. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  5. ^ "Faisalabad win U-18 soccer final". Brecorder. 8 September 2007. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  6. ^ "PFF approves Lahore as championship host". DAWN.COM. 1 October 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Pakistan 1997". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Pakistan 1999". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 18 February 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
  9. ^ "6th South Asian Federation Games 1993 (Bangladesh)". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Maldives". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Bangladesh". www.national-football-teams.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  12. ^ Nasir, Saad (19 June 2023). "Pakistan Football Team's 5 Best Wins in History". ProPakistani. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Qasim becomes MTFC coach". The Nation. 30 May 2010. Archived from the original on 12 November 2024. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  14. ^ "AFC qualifiers: Pakistan to clash with Sri Lanka". DAWN.COM. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Third AFC Challenge Cup: Pakistan require clear-cut win over Sri Lanka today". Brecorder. 8 April 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  16. ^ "Pakistan - National Team Players". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  17. ^ "Haroon Yousaf". www.rsssf.org. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  18. ^ "Colombo to host Pakistan, Sri Lanka clash". The Nation. 30 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
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