Qazi Ashfaq (12 December 1967 – 13 November 2001) was a Pakistani footballer who played as a forward. Considered one of the major Pakistani footballers in the 1990s,[1][2] he was the author of the starter goal in the final against Maldives, which saw Pakistan retain their second title in the 1991 South Asian Games.[3]
 Ashfaq with the Pakistan national team | |||
| 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 (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 | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Early life edit
Ashfaq was born on 12 December 1967 in Hassan Abdal, in the Attock district of Pakistan, with his family originally belonging from the North Western Frontier Province.[4] His father Qazi Dilawar Khan worked as a personal secretary in the Hassan Abdal Cadet College. Ashfaq received his early education from the same Cadet College and did his intermediate from Dera Ismail Khan Polytechnic College.[4]
Club career edit
Ashfaq initially played for Wohaib FC until joining Punjab FC, where he won the National Football League and played in the 1989–90 Asian Club Championship.[4]
Later on, he joined WAPDA where he won his second league title and played in the 1991 Club Championship.[4]
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.[4] He also won the National Football League twice with Allied Bank, first in 1997, and then in 1999.[4][5][6]
International career edit
Ashfaq joined the Pakistan national under-23 team for the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Qualifiers.[4] He made his international debut on 22 October 1989 against Nepal in the 1989 South Asian Games.[4] The match played at the Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad was tied 0–0.[7] 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.[8]
In the subsequent 1991 South Asian Games in Colombo under the captainship of Ghulam Sarwar, Ashfaq scored against Bangladesh,[9] 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.[3][10][11]
Ashfaq also represented the national team in the inaugural 1993 SAFF Championship in Lahore, 1995 in Colombo, 1997 in Kathmandhu,[12] and 1999 in Goa.[4] He was also present in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.[13]
He was the captain of the national team from 1996 until 1999 before Haroon Yousaf.[14]
Death edit
Ashfaq passed away on 13 November 2001 at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, after fighting cancer for two years.[4][1] Reportedly at the time of his death, he had worn the shirt of his club Allied Bank for which he played in the later years.[4]
Career statistics edit
International goals edit
- Note: Exact figures of Pakistani players before 1989 and 1999 are not yet known and yet to be researched. Below are goals recorded.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 October 1989 | Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan |  Maldives
|
2–0 | 2–0 | 1989 South Asian Games |
| 2 | 24 December 1991 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka |  Bangladesh
|
1–0 | 1–0 | 1991 South Asian Games |
| 3 | 29 December 1991 | Maldives
|
1–0 | 2–0 |
Honours edit
Club edit
Punjab edit
- National Football League: 1990,
- Allied Bank
- National Football League: 1997(1), 1999
- Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup: 1996, 1998, 1999
International edit
Pakistan edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Ahsan, Ali (2010-12-23). "A history of football in Pakistan — Part III". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2014-04-09). "FPDC Feature: Maradona knows about Pakistani football as much as the Pakistani Public". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ a b "5th South Asian Federation Games 1991 (Colombo, Sri Lanka)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Editorial Staff (2013-02-13). "Qazi Ashfaq, Abdul Ghafoor profiled". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC) (in Urdu). Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Pakistan 1997". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "Pakistan 1999". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ^ "6th South Asian Federation Games 1993 (Bangladesh)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "6th South Asian Federation Games 1993 (Bangladesh)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Pakistan vs. Bangladesh". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ Nasir, Saad (19 June 2023). "Pakistan Football Team's 5 Best Wins in History". ProPakistani.
- ^ Editorial Staff (2010-11-08). "9th Pakistan-Maldives clash on Tuesday in 2010 Asian Games". FootballPakistan.com (FPDC). Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ "AFC qualifiers: Pakistan to clash with Sri Lanka". DAWN.COM. 2009-04-07. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ^ "Pakistan - National Team Players". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
- ^ "Haroon Yousaf". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
External links edit
- Qazi Ashfaq at National-Football-Teams.com
- 11vs11 Profile – Qazi Muhammad Ashfaq
- Ashfaq goal against Maldives in the 1991 South Asian Games final