# Tariq Kazi

Tariq Raihan Kazi (Bengali: তারিক কাজী; born 6 October 2000) is a Bangladeshi professional footballer who plays as a defender for Bangladesh Premier League club Bashundhara Kings. Born in Finland, he plays for the Bangladesh national team at international level. During his youth career he was primarily used as a right wing-back, who could also be deployed as a right back, later on he was transitioned into a center back by coach Óscar Bruzón.
Kazi is the second Bangladeshi descent footballer to represent Bangladesh internationally after Danish-born Jamal Bhuyan. He represented Finland at U17 and U19 levels internationally, before switching national sides. He also made an appearance in the UEFA Europa League qualifying stage for Ilves.

## Personal life

Kazi was born to a Finnish mother and a Bangladeshi father in Tampere. Kazi, who has represented Finland in the U17, U18, U19 national team, also has a Bangladeshi passport due to his family roots. His father Sahidul Kazi is a teacher of Tampare University of applied science. Kazi is the grandson of a freedom fighter and school teacher of Naogaon, Abdul Jabber Kazi, who was martyred in the battlefield of 1971 liberation war. He is one of four siblings, with a brother and two sisters.

## Club career
### Ilves

Kazi began his career with Ilves, making his Veikkausliiga debut for the club in June 2018 as a substitute in a 3–1 loss to KuPS. On 19 July 2018, Kazi became the first ever Bangladeshi to play in a Europa League match. He came on as a substitute in the 76th minute for Jani Tanska, as Ilves defeated Bulgarian club PFC Slavia Sofia 2–1.
Tariq spent the 2018–19 season on loan at Swedish club HJS Akatemia who currently play in the Kakkonen which is the third level in the league system of Finnish football. During the season Tariq managed to make 8 appearances for the club.

### Bashundhara Kings

In November 2019, Kazi joined Bangladesh Premier League side Bashundhara Kings on a three-year deal.

## International career

Having represented Finland at youth international level, in November 2020, Kazi was called up to the Bangladesh squad for their friendlies against Nepal but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
On 3 June 2021, Kazi made his senior international debut for Bangladesh against Afghanistan in the country's 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier, playing full 90 minutes.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 8 May 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Ilves | 2017 | Veikkausliiga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Ilves | 2018 | Veikkausliiga | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Ilves | 2019 | Veikkausliiga | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Ilves | Total | Total | 15 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| HJS (loan) | 2018 | Kakkonen | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Ilves II | 2019 | Kakkonen | 12 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Bashundhara Kings | 2019–20 | Bangladesh Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Bashundhara Kings | 2020–21 | Bangladesh Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Bashundhara Kings | 2021–22 | Bangladesh Premier League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Bashundhara Kings | 2022–23 | Bangladesh Premier League | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Bashundhara Kings | 2023–24 | Bangladesh Premier League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Bashundhara Kings | Total | Total | 54 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 68 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 89 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 98 | 0 |
* ↑ Includes Finnish Cup
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League qualifying round
* 1 2 Appearances in AFC Cup
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Bangladesh Federation Cup

### International

    As of 11 June 2024.
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Bangladesh | 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 2023 | 12 | 2 |
| Bangladesh | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 27 | 2 |

#### International goals

    Scores and results list Bangladesh's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Tariq Kazi :
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |

## Honours

Ilves
* Finnish Cup: 2019
Bashundhara Kings
* Bangladesh Premier League: 2020–21, 2021-22, 2023–24
* Federation Cup: 2020–21
* Independence Cup: 2022–23, 2023–24; runner-up: 2021-22