Qazi Ashfaq

Qazi Ashfaq (Urdu: قاضی محمد اشفاق; 12 December 1967 – 13 November 2001) was a Pakistani footballer who played as a striker and captained the Pakistan national 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]

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	Striker
Youth career
	Karwan Club
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1990	Punjab
1990–1996	WAPDA
1996–2000	Allied Bank
International career
1991–1995	Pakistan U23
1989–1997	Pakistan		(3)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Pakistan South Asian Games 1989 Islamabad Team competition 1991 Colombo Team competition
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

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] He graduated from Cadet College Hasan Abdal^[4]

Club career

Ashfaq played football in his college days, after graduating he started playing for Karwan Club. Before playing for Punjab, where he won the National Football Championship and played in the 1989–90 Asian Club Championship. In 1990, Ashfaq featured in the National Youth Championship.^[5][6][7] Later on, he joined WAPDA where he won his second league title and played in the 1991 Asian Club Championship.^[8]

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.^[8] He also won the National Football Championship twice with Allied Bank, first in 1997, and then in 1999.^[9][10]

International career

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.^[11] 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.^[12]

In the subsequent 1991 South Asian Games in Colombo under the captainship of Ghulam Sarwar, Ashfaq scored against Bangladesh,^[13] qualifying Pakistan for the final against Maldives. In the dying minutes of the game, Ashfaq scored the first goal in the 83rd minute before Muhammad Nauman Khan, finishing the match by a 2–0 victory for Pakistan, and winning their second title in the competition.^[2][14][15]

Ashfaq also represented the national team in the inaugural 1993 SAARC Gold Cup in Lahore, 1995 in Colombo, and 1997 in Kathmandhu.^[16][17] He was also present in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.^[18]

He was the captain of the national team from 1996 until 1999 before Haroon Yousaf.^[19] Under his captaincy, Pakistan achieved the bronze medal at the 1997 SAFF Gold Cup.^[20]

Death

Ashfaq died 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.^[3]

Career statistics

International goals

Scores and results list Pakistan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ashfaq goal.

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	1–0	2–0	1989 South Asian Games	[12]
2	24 December 1991	Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	Bangladesh	1–0	1–0	1991 South Asian Games	[13]
3	29 December 1991	Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka	Maldives	1–0	2–0	1991 South Asian Games	[2]

Honours

Punjab

• National Football Championship:
  • Winners (1): 1990

WAPDA

• National Football Championship: 1991

Allied Bank

• National Football Championship:
  • Winners (2): 1997, 1999

• Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup:
  • Winners (3): 1996, 1998, 1999

Pakistan

• South Asian Games
  • Winners (2): 1989, 1991

Individual

• President PFF Cup top goal-scorer: 1996

See also

• List of Pakistan national football team captains