Qazi Ashfaq

Qazi Muhammad Ashfaq (; 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. 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.

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. He graduated from Cadet College Hasan Abdal, playing sports such as football, cricket, and track.

Club career Ashfaq played football in his college days, after graduating he started playing for Karwan Club. He was scouted by Hafiz Salman Butt, general secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation, and founder of Wohaib FC, and included him in his team. He was also selected to play for Punjab, where he won the 1990 National Football Championship, finding the net in the final of the competition. As well as participating in the 1989–90 Asian Club Championship. In 1990, Ashfaq also featured in the National Youth Championship.

Later on, he joined WAPDA where he won his second championship title, scoring a header in the 1991 final against Habib Bank. He also played in the 1991 Asian Club Championship. In 1992, Ashfaq scored in the 96th minute of the National Games final, helping WAPDA win the title.

Ashfaq played a key role in helping Allied Bank where he was vice-captain from 1996 to 2000, winning the National Challenge Cup in 1996, 1998 and 1999.

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. 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.

In the subsequent 1991 South Asian Games in Colombo under the captainship of Ghulam Sarwar, Ashfaq scored against Bangladesh, 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.

Ashfaq also represented the national team in the inaugural 1993 SAARC Gold Cup in Lahore, where he scored a goal against Nepal, 1995 in Colombo, and 1997 in Kathmandhu. He was also present in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

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

Death Ashfaq died on 13 November 2001 at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore, after fighting cancer for two years. 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

International goals

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

Honours

Punjab

National Football Championship: Winners (1): 1990

WAPDA

National Football Championship: Winners (1): 1991

National Games: Winners (1): 1992

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 (8 goals)