Masood Fakhri

Masood Fakhri (; 16 November 1932 – 6 September 2016) was a Pakistani professional footballer who played as a left winger. A former Pakistani international, Fakhri was well known for his time with Indian Kolkata clubs East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting. He was the first Pakistani footballer to score a hat trick in an international game at the 1954 Asian Games, and the first player from South Asia to play in England, where he played for Bradford City before prematurely retiring.

Early life Fakhri was born on 16 November 1932 in Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, British India. His father, Nazir Hussain Siddiqi, served as a headmaster in Pakistan. Fakhri was one of eight siblings, with four brothers and three sisters. He also represented Raiders the same year to play in the Rovers Cup in India where his team lost to Bombay Amateurs in the semi-finals, and they also beat Central Railways in the third place match. thumb In 1952 at the age of 20, he signed with Indian Calcutta Football League side East Bengal. During his first season with the club, Fakhri helped his side win the Calcutta Football League and the Durand Cup.

From April to May 1953 he returned to Pakistan representing North-Western Railway at the National Football Championship. He also scored 5 goals in the Calcutta Football League. In August 1953, he was part of the East Bengal senior team's tour to the World Youth Festival in Bucharest, where he scored a goal against Lebanon XI in their 6–1 win and against Germany in the third-place play-offs in a 2–5 defeat. He also featured in the friendly against FC Torpedo Moscow the same month. The team returned from Europe to participate in the IFA Shield and reached the final where they faced Indian Cultural League. In August 1953, the Pakistan Football Federation reportedly prohibited Pakistani players from playing in India without a permit, but East Bengal still fielded Masood Fakhri and fellow countryman Niaz Ali, stating they had received permission from the PFF. On 3 October 1953, in the 1953 IFA Shield final against the Indian Cultural League on the third replayed final, Fakhri scored for East Bengal in the 34th minute. The game would result in a 1–1 tie. The I.C.L. team lodged a complaint with the Indian Football Association immediately after the match against East Bengal over their fielding the Pakistani players. after East Bengal failed to produce a written permit for the Pakistani players from the PFF and suspended the club from all football activities until 31 December 1954. and had their suspension revoked.

In 1954, when the National Football Championship was held in Lahore, he returned to his former team this time featuring under the name of Punjab Blue, finding the net in the 80th and 85th minutes against North-Western Railway in the final winning by 3–0.

In 1955, Fakhri signed with another Kolkata club, Mohammedan. He helped the team reach the 1955 Rovers Cup final, finishing as runners-up, losing to Mohun Bagan. The following year, he would go on to win the tournament with Mohammedan Sporting against Mohun Bagan where the team avenged their loss from the previous year.

After playing for Mohammedan Sporting, Fakhri returned to Pakistan, where he represented Rovers and Bata Sports Club in domestic competitions. A few months later, Fakhri was contacted by Bert Flatley, an English Football Association (FA) coach, regarding the idea of joining Bradford City. The team participated in the English football league's third division. On August 8, 1956, Fakhri officially signed a contract with the team following negotiations with Peter Jackson, the manager of the club at the time. In addition to paying his fare of £120, City secured him employment at Bradford's textile factories. Fakhri would make appearances in Bradford City's reserve team, however, he left football early for personal reasons in 1957 after just one season with the team.

International career

In 1952, Fakhri made his international debut with Pakistan at 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament against Ceylon, he also made an appearance against Burma. The same year, he played in a friendly match against Iran in YMCA Ground, Karachi, which resulted in a goalless draw. Later on in the starting group stage match of the 1954 Asian Games in Manila, Philippines on 2 May 1954, Fakhri became the first player from Pakistan to score a hat-trick in an international match, as Pakistan thumped Singapore 6–2. He completed the hat-trick in 5 minutes, scoring at the 42nd, 43rd and 47th minutes of the match. He also scored against Burma in a 1–2 loss. Later he was selected for the 1954 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament. He was starter for Pakistan in all three games that the team played, scoring against Burma and India.

The following year, Fakhri represented Pakistan at the 1955 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament, where he featured in all three games and found the net twice against Ceylon and a goal against India. He also appeared in a friendly against India after the conclusion of the tournament.

Personal life Fakhri married Rhoda Eileen and lived in Llanrwst, North Wales. His brother's family settled in Great Britain as well.

26 December 1954 Calcutta FC Ground, Kolkata, India

1954 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament Durand Cup: Winners (1): 1952 DCM Trophy: Winners (1): 1952

Mohammedan Sporting Rovers Cup: Winners (1): 1956 Runners-up (1): 1955

Pakistan Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament: Winners (1): 1952 Runners-up (1): 1955 Third place (1): 1954