# Naveed Akram

Muhammad Naveed Akram (Urdu: نوید اکرم; born May 16, 1984) is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a right-back.

## Club career
### WAPDA

Akram won three Pakistan Premier League titles with WAPDA F. C. (in the 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2010–11 seasons) during his stint with the club from 2003 until 2014.
He was part of the Lahore Lajpaal team that lost in the semi-finals of Geo Super Football League.

#### Loan to Saraswoti Youth Club

In 2011, Akram along with club compatriot Mehmood Ali were loaned to Nepali club Saraswoti Youth Club from May to July for the 2011 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League campaign. Both made their debut for the club in 21 May 2011, following a 0–2 loss against Brigade Boys Club at the Dasarath Rangsala Stadium. One month on, the duo helped the club win two games and reach the team target to climb out of the relegation zone.

### Lyallpur

Akram had a short stint at Lyallpur in 2014, before his eventual retirement.

## International career

Akram was called by the Pakistan under-23 national team for the 2004 and 2006 South Asian Games, where he helped Pakistan win the gold medal.
He made his senior debut with Pakistan on 12 June 2005 which was the first game in a series of three games against India, the game finished 1–1 draw to Pakistan He was subsequently called for the 2005 SAFF Gold Cup. He scored his first goal on 15 November 2006 in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification, in the eventual 2–3 loss against UAE. He also featured at the 2006 Asian Games, where he scored a long range goal in the eventual 2–3 loss against Japan.

## Playing style

Naveed plays as an attacking right back on the pitch, and always tends to assist in the attacking plays as well as having a knack of scoring goals himself.
He is most known for his memorable long range goal in the 2006 Asian Games, when Pakistan came close to a huge upset against Japan.

## Post-retirement

On 29 March 2021, Akram was appointed as secretary general of the Pakistan Football Federation, following a controversial takeover by Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah, which eventually leaded to a ban by FIFA on the federation. Three years later on 28 August 2024, Akram along with 21 former officials faced a lifetime ban due to their alleged role in creating a parallel association and orchestrating a hostile takeover of the PFF offices.

## Career statistics
### International

Appearances and goals by year and competition :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Pakistan | 2005 | 9 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 2006 | 8 | 1 |
| Pakistan | 2007 | 1 | 0 |
| Pakistan | 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 21 | 1 |

#### U-23

| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 29 November 2006 | Qatar SC Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Japan | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2006 Asian Games |

#### Senior

| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 15 November 2006 | Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, UAE | United Arab Emirates | 1–0 | 2–3 | 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification |

## Honours
### WAPDA

* National Football Championship: 2003
* Pakistan Premier League: 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

### Pakistan U23

* South Asian Games: 2004, 2006