# East Pakistan football team

The East Pakistan football team (Bengali: পূর্ব পাকিস্তান ফুটবল দল) was a provincial team operated by the East Pakistan Sports Federation (EPSF) and represented East Pakistan in national and international matches from 1948 till the Independence of Bangladesh in 1971, which led to the eventual formation of the Bangladesh national football team.
The team participated in the National Football Championship from 1948 to 1960, becoming champions in their final year, after which the EPSF began sending divisional teams to the tournament. East Pakistan won their maiden international trophy in 1970, the King Mahendra Cup in Kathmandu, Nepal, during which they also played their final competitive game, as the team was dissolved during the Bangladesh Liberation War. Apart from East Pakistanis, the team often included players from West Pakistan, who, at the time, participated in the Dhaka First Division League. This contributed significantly to their success.

## History

The East Pakistan football team traces its origins back to 1948, when they played an exhibition match against the Indian Olympic Selection in Dacca. That same year, the team, featuring notable players like Wazed Ali Miyazi, embarked on a tour of India. In 1951, the East Pakistan Sports Federation (EPSF), now known as the National Sports Council, was established, taking over as the province's primary sports body from the Dacca Sporting Association (DSA). Habibullah Bahar Chowdhury and Siddikur Rahman were the founding president and general secretary, respectively. The East Pakistan football team became a provincial member under the EPSF, which formed teams to participate in the National Football Championship, exhibition games, and international invitation tournaments.

### Teams

| Team | Year | Note |
| East Pakistan | 1948–71 | Main team |
| East Pakistan Whites | 1957 | Formed for the 1957 National Football Championship in Dacca |
| East Pakistan Green | 1957 | Formed for the 1957 National Football Championship in Dacca |
| East Pakistan Sports Federation President's XI | 1957 | Formed for an exhibition match against Calcutta Mohammedan in Dacca |
| East Pakistan Sports Board XI | 1963 | Formed for an exhibition match against Fortuna Düsseldorf in Dacca |

## National Championship record
### 1948 Karachi–1954 Lahore

In April 1948, invitations were sent to East Bengal to form a team for the inaugural National Football Championship, held in Karachi in May of that year. However, it remains unclear whether a team was actually sent. The third National Championship was scheduled to be held in Dacca, East Pakistan, starting on 10 September 1951. However, it was initially postponed and ultimately canceled a month prior due to the ongoing Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan.
The East Pakistan football team also participated in the National Football Championship during the fourth edition of the tournament, held in Peshawar in 1953. Captained by K.A. Ansari, the team did not advance far in the tournament. The following year, they toured Chittagong in preparation for the fifth National Championship in Lahore, though their progress in that tournament remains unrecorded.

### 1955 Bahawalpur and 1956 Karachi

In the 1955 edition of the championship held in Bahawalpur, East Pakistan, captained by Pakistan national football team forward Rashid Chunna, exited the tournament in the quarter-finals, losing 1–3 to Baluchistan on 21 November. Iqbal scored twice, and Taj Mohammad Jr. added the third for Baluchistan, while Chunnah netted the consolation goal for East Pakistan.
In 1956, Wazed Ali Miyazi captained the team during the seventh National Championship in Karachi, although their progress in the tournament remains unrecorded.

### 1957 Dacca; runners-up

On 17 June 1957, Ashraful Huq, the football secretary of the East Pakistan Sports Federation (EPSF) and the organizing secretary of the National Football Championship, confirmed that the eighth edition of the championship would be held in Dacca, the administrative capital of East Pakistan. The festive atmosphere leading up to the championship included free shows at local cinema halls for participating teams, as well as arranged trips to Adamjee Jute Mills and Cotton Mills in Narayanganj for the participants.
For the first time, the EPSF formed two teams to participate in the tournament: the East Pakistan Whites and the East Pakistan Greens. Mari Chowdhury captained the Whites, while Sheikh Shaheb Ali led the Greens. The Green team was knocked out in the first round on 11 October, losing 1–4 to Pakistan Army. On 22 October, the East Pakistan Whites began the championship with a 5–2 victory over Pakistan Navy, with Ashraf Chowdhury scoring a hat-trick, while Nabi Chowdhury and Kabir Ahmed added the other goals. In the second round against Sindh on 26 October, the Whites, led by the individual brilliance of Mari and Ashraf, won the game 5–0.
In the semi-finals against Baluchistan on 3 November, Ashraf and Kabir scored in a 2–3 defeat. The loss on home turf led to local fans throwing stones at referee Mahmood Shah due to his alleged controversial decisions during the match. Police had to intervene and eventually retaliated. The governor of East Pakistan at the time, A. K. Fazlul Huq, was present at Dacca Stadium to witness the chaos. On 4 November, the East Pakistan government directed the Dacca Divisional Commissioner and the Deputy Inspector of Police in Dacca to conduct an inquiry into the clash, which resulted in seventy-seven people being injured, including fifty-four policemen. The semi-final was eventually replayed on 5 November, with the Whites winning 2–1.
In the final against favorites Punjab, held on 10 November, local fans packed the stadium, with some even sitting inside the playing area, causing Punjab’s players to initially refuse to play. Eventually, a thirty-minute exhibition match was held, during which the host's center-forward, Ashraf, got injured. Once the game finally got underway, S.A. Jamman Mukta replaced Ashraf. East Pakistan Whites lost 1–2, with Rashid Chunna scoring the team's only goal. The chief minister of East Pakistan, Ataur Rahman Khan, handed over the prizes, with Whites captain Mari receiving the championship’s Best Player award.
East Pakistan Whites XI: Ranjit, Ghaznavi, Eugene Gomes, Arzu, Nabi, Shamsu, Rashid Chunna, S.A. Jamman Mukta, Kabir, Mari (captain), Shah Alam.
Punjab XI: Sharafuddin, Riasat Ali, Neamat, Shaukat, Masud, Naiir, Talib Ali, Mazhar, Saif, Hanif, Ghulam Rabbani.
The following year, six players from East Pakistan Whites were selected for the Pakistan national team bound for the Tokyo Asian Games, including Amir Jang Ghaznavi, Kabir Ahmed, Nabi Chowdhury, Mari Chowdhury, Ashraf Chowdhury, and Manzur Hasan Mintu.

### 1958 Multan; quarter-finalist

In the ninth National Championship held in Multan, the East Pakistan football team was captained by Nabi Chowdhury, who had also led the Pakistan national football team at the Tokyo Asian Games earlier that year. The team included four other internationals: Manzur Hasan Mintu, Mari Chowdhury, Kabir Ahmed, and Abid Ghazi (from Karachi, West Pakistan). Despite their strong lineup, they were eliminated from the tournament before the semi-finals, following a 1–3 defeat to Punjab Reds, the junior team of reigning champions Punjab, on 15 November 1958. Their defeat was largely attributed to goalkeeper Ranjit Das, whose lack of height contributed to the concession of the first two goals. Rashid Chunna once again scored the consolation for East Pakistan.

### 1959 Hyderabad; runners-up

Prior to the tenth National Championship held in Hyderabad, Sheikh Shaheb Ali, who represented the team from 1953 to 1957, was appointed as the team's first head coach. In preparation for the championship, the team also toured Punjab. Ultimately, East Pakistan, captained by Kabir Ahmed, reached the championship semi-final held on 9 November, defeating Punjab with a solitary goal by Shah Alam. Notably, the Punjab team included six international players: M.N. Jehan, Sher Mohammed, Shaukat, Masood, Hanif, and Niamat. The final, held on 7 November, was witnessed by a crowd of 20,000, including President Ayub Khan, as East Pakistan was defeated 0–1 by Baluchistan. The only goal was scored after East Pakistan's goalkeeper, Ranjit Das, misjudged an aerial clearance.
East Pakistan XI: Ranjit, Zahir, Ghaznavi, Nabi, Abid, Imam Bakhsh, Islam, Kabir (captain), Ashraf, Mari, Shah Alam.
Baluchistan XI: Siddiq, Afzal, Qayyum (captain), Ahmad Munir, Qamar Ali, Ashique Hossain, Agha Gul, Taj Mohammad Jr., Ghulam Rasool, Hussain Bakhsh, Ahmad.

### 1960 Karachi; champions

In November 1960, East Pakistan participated in the eleventh National Championship held in Karachi. Coached by Sheikh Shaheb Ali, the team entered the tournament without key players Amir Jang Ghaznavi, Kabir Ahmed, Aman Chowdhury, Abu Jan, and Qamru, all of whom were suspended while playing for Mohammedan SC in the Aga Khan Gold Cup. To fill the gaps, the East Pakistan Sports Federation included several West Pakistani players, such as Gafur Baloch, Ghulam Rabbani, Yaqoob, and Musa Jr.
Under the captaincy of Zahirul Haque, East Pakistan defeated Karachi Greens 3–1 in the round-robin league on 12 November, with Yaqoob scoring a hat-trick. On 18 November, the team secured a 5–0 victory over Pakistan Railways. They eventually reached the final, held on 27 November, where a goal in the 75th minute by Musa Jr. clinched the team’s first-ever National Championship title in a match against Karachi Whites.
The team returned to Dacca via Pakistan International Airlines on 30 November, where they were warmly welcomed by high-ranking government officials and enthusiastic football fans. They later received a civic reception at Dacca Stadium.
East Pakistan XI: Siddique, Zahir (captain), Saifuddin, Rasool Bakhsh, Gafur Baloch, Samad, Bashir, Musa Jr., Yaqoob, Abdullah, Rabbani.
Karachi Whites XI: Ghulam Hussain, Khuda Bakhsh, Ali, Raso Ismail, Ismail Raso, Mirdad, Taki, Mahmud, Yousuf Sr.

## International and Friendly record
### Pakistan (1955, 1959, 1962)

Prior to the 1955 Colombo Cup, held in Dacca, East Pakistan, the Pakistan national team played an exhibition match against the East Pakistan team at Dacca Stadium. The match ended in a 1–3 defeat for East Pakistan, with Jamil Akhtar scoring a hat-trick and Rashid Chunna netting the consolation goal for the East Wing. Notably, Pakistan's final squad for the tournament included four East Pakistani players: Fazlur Rahman Arzu, Nabi Chowdhury, Tajul Islam Manna, and Abdur Rahim.
On 18 April 1959, only a few days before touring Burma the Pakistan national team defeated East Pakistan 1–7 in Dacca. Eventually, national coach John McBride included both Kabir Ahmed and Abul Khayer in the squad for Pakistan's tour.
On 26 August 1962, Pakistan defeated its East Wing 4–1, with M.N. Jehan scoring all four. The game was played as preparation for the 1960 Merdeka Tournament, and the Pakistan team, coached by former East Pakistan coach Sheikh Shaheb Ali, once again included Kabir Ahmed.

### Burma (1961)

In January 1961, the Burma national team toured East Pakistan and played three exhibition matches against the Pakistan national team in both Dacca and Chittagong. Prior to their first match against Pakistan in Dacca, Burma played an exhibition match against an East Pakistan XI, defeating the hosts 1–3. On 25 January, Burma played another exhibition match against the East Wing, winning 1–9 in the game held at Chittagong's Niaz Stadium. The East Wing took the lead in the second minute through Liton. Following this, Burma's center-forward, Ko Ko Gyi, scored six goals, including a perfect hat-trick. The other Burmese scorers were Mg Kyaw Aw, Aung Thein and Mg Than.

### China (1963)

In January 1963, the China national football team toured Pakistan to play four exhibition matches against the Pakistan national team. Before their first match, China played a warm-up game against the "East Pakistan Sports Federation XI" in Dacca. The East Pakistan team was missing Pakistan internationals Gafur Baloch, Muhammad Umer, and Abdul Ghafoor, all of whom had represented the Dacca Division in that year's National Championship. This led to the formation of a new squad under coach Abdus Sattar. In the match held at Dacca Stadium on 24 January 1963, China dominated East Pakistan, winning 11–1. China took the lead within the first three minutes and ended the first half ahead by seven goals. East Pakistan's lone consolation goal was scored by Bashir Ahmed.
ESPF XI: Sadek (Zafar Imam), Zahir, Kazi Mobassar Hossain, Saifuddin, Debinash, Samad, Pintoo, Kabir, Bashir, Shamsul Islam Mollah, Jamil Akhter (Batu), Pratap.
China players (starting XI unspecified): Chang Chon-shiu, Sun Yu-min, Sun Pao-jung, Kao Fen-wen, Sun En-nu, Wang Feng-chu, Kang Ke-pin, Chang Ching-tien, Chen Jiagen, Chen Weng-fan, Chen Jialiang, Zhang Honggen, Sun Yuan-yun, Uchup-hua, Ni Che-te.

### Fortuna Düsseldorf (1963)

In 1963, during a global tour, Germany's Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf encountered aircraft problems, resulting in an unplanned stay in Pakistan. The Pakistan Football Federation seized the opportunity to invite the team to play friendly matches against select XI teams from East and West Pakistan. Fortuna eagerly accepted the invitation and faced the East Pakistan Sports Board XI in Dacca on June 9. The team, captained by veteran forward and former Pakistan national team captain Qayyum Changezi, was defeated 1–4 by the Germans at the Dacca Stadium. Changezi scored East Pakistan's consolation goal from a long-distance free-kick.

### Other matches

In December 1957, the "East Pakistan Sports Federation President's XI" played three exhibition matches against the touring Calcutta League champions, Calcutta Mohammedan in Dacca. On 15 December, the teams played their final exhibition match, which was watched by the chief minister of East Pakistan, Ataur Rahman Khan, and ended in a 1–1 draw, largely credited to East Pakistan's goalkeeper, Ranjit Das.
In October 1959, the East Pakistan football team toured West Pakistan. On 13 October, they played their first match and defeated Carson Institute FC 4–2 at their home ground in Lahore. East Pakistan's goals came from Nabi Chowdhury, Ashraf Chowdhury, Kabir Ahmed and Noor Islam.
East Pakistan XI: Ranjit, Qamruzzaman Qamru, Ghaznavi, Nabi, Abid, Noor Islam, Kabir, Ashraf, Bashir, Habib Ahmed, Shah Alam.
Carson Institute XI: Farooq, Hafeez, Anwar, Rashir, Ramzan, Alford, Zakaria, Abid, Ejaz, Ahmed, Nazir.
On 16 October, East Pakistan played an exhibition match in Gujranwala against local the local Al Hilal Club. The team won 2–1, with goals coming from Nabi Chowdhury and Shah Alam.
On 31 October 1967, the Pakistan Football Federation arranged a youth team consisting of mainly East Pakistani players which lost 2–5 against the touring American club Dallas Tornado in Dacca. In 1969, the East Pakistan XI played a match against the touring Yangzee FC from South Korea.
On 11 June 1970, the All Nepal Football Association arranged a football tournament to celebrate the 50th birth anniversary of King Mahendra, which was eventually won by the East Pakistan Sports Federation team. East Pakistan defeated Border Security Force team from India by 2–0 in the final with Maula Bakhsh scoring a brace. This was the team's first and only international title. Notably the East Pakistan team included seven players from West Pakistan, all of whom were playing in the Dhaka First Division League at the time.
Following the start of the Bangladesh Liberation War, the Shadhin Bangla football team was formed, marking the first instance of a national football team composed entirely of East Pakistani players. The team was captained by Zakaria Pintoo, with Pratap Shankar Hazra as vice-captain and Mohammed Shajahan as a forward; all three had previously played for the East Pakistan football team. After Bangladesh gained independence, the newly formed Bangladesh national football team made its international debut in 1973, with six players from the first squad being former members of the East Pakistan football team.

## Youth team

In 1967, German coach Räsli Kotier arrived in Dacca to conduct trials for the East Pakistan Youth Team in preparation for the Pakistan National Youth Championship (East Zone). He initially selected eighty players, eventually narrowing it down to a final squad of sixteen. The East Pakistan Youth Team went on to defeat Chittagong Division 3–1 in the championship final, with striker Iqbal Chowdhury scoring twice.
The following year, the National Youth Championship (East Zone) took place in Mymensingh. Under the guidance of coach Ranjit Das, the youth team once again reached the final after defeating Chittagong Division 2–1 in the semi-final. However, in the final held at Mymensingh Stadium, they lost 0–1 to the Combined University XI after 120 minutes of extra time.

## Squads

1953 National Football Championship:
* K.A. Anasari (captain), S.A. Rashid (vice-captain), Nawaz, Momtaz, Sailesh, Sheikh Shaheb Ali, Bhawal, A.M. Rahman, Abdur Rahim, Fazlu, Nurul Islam Nanna, Khalek, Bhanu, Fazlur Rahman Arzoo, T Roy.
1955 National Football Championship:
* Rashid Chunna (captain), S.A. Jamman Mukta, Abdul Khalek Chowdhury, Abdur Rahim, Fazlur Rahman Arzu, Ranjit Das, Nawaz, Shokhi Samad and Wazed Ali Miazi, Showkat Khan Chowdhury, Kabir Ahmed, Sadek, Upan, Amir Jang Ghaznavi and Hannan.
1957 National Football Championship:
* Pakistan Whites: Mari Chowdhury (captain), Ranjit Das, Manzur Hasan Mintu, Amir Jang Ghaznavi Eugene Gomes, Fazlur Rahman Arzu, Nabi Chowdhury, Shamsu, Rashid Chunna, S.A. Jamman Mukta, Kabir Ahmed, Rashid Jr., Shah Alam.
* Pakistan Greens: Sheikh Shaheb Ali (captain), Foni, Shamsu, Kasti, Shofir, Qamruzzaman Qamru, Goda Dhor, Rafiq, Zahirul Haque, Robson, Habib Ahmed, Rothin, P. Gosh, Sadek.
1958 National Football Championship:
* Nabi Chowdhury (captain), Ranjit Das (vice-captain), Manzur Hasan Mintu, Zahirul Haque, Imam Bakhsh, Eugene Gomes, Kasem, Abid Ghazi, Samad, Aman Chowdhury, Kabir Ahmed, Habib Ahmed, Mari Chowdhury, Shah Alam, Rashid Chunna, Bashir Ahmed.
1959 National Football Championship:
* Kabir Ahmed (captain), Amir Jang Ghaznavi, Zahirul Haque, Samad, Islam, Qamruzzaman Qamru, Shah Alam, Manzur Hasan Mintu, Mari Chowdhury, Abid Ghazi, Habib Ahmed, Ghazi, Ranjit Das, Ashraf Chowdhury, Bashir Ahmed, Ejaz Rasool.
1960 National Football Championship:
* Zahirul Haque (captain), Nabi Chowdhury, Ranjit Das, Siddique, Saifuddin, Gour Saha, Rasool Bakhsh, Gafur Baloch, Zakaria Pintoo, Nowroz, Patrick, Abdullah, Yaqoob, Bashir Ahmed, Musa Jr., Ghulam Rabbani, Jambu, Batu.
Burma national team, first exhibition match 1961
* Samad (captain), Ranjit Das, Zahirul Haque, Saifuddin, Nabi Chowdhury, Dijesh, Ghulam Rabbani, Abdullah, Yaqoob, Prakash, Abu Taher Putu, Selim, Jambu, Kazi Mobassar Hossain.
Burma national team, 25 January 1961
* Ranjit Das, Shudhin, Nabi Chowdhury, Saifuddin, Dijesh, Saber, Liton, Shankar, Nishith, Gouda Dhor, Abu Taher Putu.
China national team, 24 January 1963
* Pratap Shankar Hazra, Saiful, Debinash Sangma, Kabir Ahmed, Saifuddin, Jamil Akhter, Kazi Mobassar Hossain, Zahirul Haque, Hafiz Rashid, Shamsul Islam Mollah, Bashir Ahmed, Zakaria Pintoo, Zafar Imam, Sadek, Abu Taher Putu, Batu, Samad.
Fortuna Düsseldorf, 9 June 1963
* Qayyum Changezi (captain), Bashir Ahmed, Kazi Mobassar Hossain, Gafur Baloch, Mari Chowdhury, Moosa Ghazi, Rezaul Haque Rana, Abdul Hakim, Abid Ghazi, Faruk, Zahirul Haque, Milal.
Nepal King Mahendra Cup, 1970
* Zakaria Pintoo (captain), Mohammed Shajahan (vice-captain), Shahidur Rahman Shantoo, Kasheem, Nazir Ahmed Chowdhury, Farukuzzaman Faruk, Monwar Hossain Nannu, Amir Bakhsh, Abdullah Akbar, Ayub Dar, Ali Nawaz Baloch, Maula Bakhsh, Sultan Ahmed, Abdul Jabbar Baloch, Gafur, Golam Sarwar Tipu, Wazed Gazi.

## Honours

* National Football Championship
** Champions (1): 1960
** Runners-up (2): 1957, 1959
* King Mahendra Cup
** Champions (1): 1970