# Qazi Ashfaq

Qazi Ashfaq (12 December 1967 – 13 November 2001) was a Pakistani footballer who played as a forward and captained the national football 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.

## Club career

In 1990, Ashfaq featured in the National Youth Football Championship.
Ashfaq initially played for Wohaib FC until joining Punjab, where he won the National Football Championship and played in the 1989–90 Asian Club Championship.
Later on, he joined WAPDA where he won his second league title and played in the 1991 Asian Club Championship.
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. He also won the National Football Championship twice with Allied Bank, first in 1997, and then in 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 Mohammad 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 SAFF Championship in Lahore, 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 passed away 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.
List of international goals scored by Qazi Ashfaq :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 24 October 1989 | Jinnah Sports Stadium, Islamabad, Pakistan | Maldives | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1989 South Asian Games |
| 2 | 24 December 1991 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Bangladesh | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1991 South Asian Games |
| 3 | 29 December 1991 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka | Maldives | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1991 South Asian Games |

## Honours
### Punjab

* National Football Championship: 1990,

#### Allied Bank

* National Football Championship: 1997(1), 1999
* Pakistan National Football Challenge Cup: 1996, 1998, 1999

### Pakistan

* South Asian Games: 1989, 1991