1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament

The 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament was the first edition of the Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament held in Colombo, Ceylon. India and Pakistan were declared as the joint winners.^[1]

1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament

Pakistan vs Burma during the 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament
Tournament details
Host country	Ceylon
Dates	9–23 March 1952
Teams	4 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions	India (1st title)  Pakistan (1st title)
Third place	Burma  Ceylon
Tournament statistics
Matches played	5
Goals scored	10 (2 per match)
Top scorer(s)	Sheoo Mewalal (4 goals)
1953 →

Overview

The 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament was the inaugural edition of the competition. It was held at the Colombo Oval in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), with the opening ceremony officiated by Sir Alan Rose.^[2]

The tournament took place from March 9 to March 23, featuring four national teams: Burma, Ceylon, India and Pakistan. As the competition ended without a clear winner, a coin toss was used to decide which team would hold the trophy for the first six months. Pakistan won the toss and was awarded the trophy. However, the Indian team protested, arguing that they had scored more goals over the course of the tournament and therefore deserved to be declared the winners.^[3]

Results

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Final result
1	India	3	2	1	0	7	0	+7	5	Champions
2	Pakistan	3	2	1	0	3	0	+3	5
3	Burma	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5	0
4	Ceylon	2	0	0	2	0	5	−5	0

Source: RSSSF

Notes: The competition rules stated that, in the event of a tie on points, goal average would be the tiebreaker. However, the organising committee took the view that goal average could not be considered, since neither India nor Pakistan had conceded any goals, and consequently it was decided that the trophy should be shared. Pakistan won a coin toss to decide which country would receive the trophy for the first six months.

Matches

9 March 1952 (1952-03-09)

Ceylon	0–3	India
	Report	Venkatesh 13', 20' Sheoo Mewalal 15'

Colombo Oval, Colombo

Attendance: 10,000

Referee: Mr. A. Roy (India)

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16 March 1952 (1952-03-16)

India	4–0	Burma
Sheoo Mewalal 20', 29', 35' Venkatesh 53'	Report

Colombo Oval, Colombo

Attendance: 12,500

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18 March 1952 (1952-03-18)

Ceylon	0–2	Pakistan
	Report	Wahid 8' Kutty 34'

Colombo Oval, Colombo

Referee: U. Kim Teikh (Burma)

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20 March 1952 (1952-03-20)

Pakistan	1–0	Burma
Sharif 60'	Report

Colombo Oval, Colombo

Referee: Mr. B. M. Mantara

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22 March 1952 (1952-03-22)

Burma	Cancelled	Ceylon

Colombo Oval, Colombo

• cancelled due to the death of Ceylon's Prime Minister Mr. Don Stephen Senanayake.

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23 March 1952 (1952-03-23)

India	0–0	Pakistan
	Report

Colombo Oval, Colombo

Referee: U. Kim Teikh (Burma)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 10 goals scored in 5 matches, for an average of 2 goals per match.

4 goals

• Sheoo Mewalal

3 goals

• Pansanttom Venkatesh

1 goal

• Runu Guha Thakurta
• Abdul Wahid Durrani
• Muhammad Sharif
• Moideen Kutty