Qazi Ashfaq

Qazi Ashfaq was a Pakistani footballer who played as a forward. Considered as one of the major Pakistani footballers in the 1990s, he was the author of the starter goal in the final against Maldives, which saw Pakistan retain their second title in the 1991 South Asian Games. He made his international debut with the Pakistan national team during the 1989 South Asian Games, where he scored a hat-trick against Burma. He also participated in the inaugural 1993 SAFF Championship in Lahore, 1995 in Colombo, 1997 in Kathmandhu, and 1999 in Goa. He was the captain of the national team from 1996 until 1999 before Haroon Yousaf. He also represented the national team in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He played for various clubs in Pakistan, such as Wohaib FC, Punjab FC, WAPDA, and Allied Bank. He won several National Championship and National Challenge Cup titles with his clubs. He was declared Player of the Year in 1996. He passed away on 13 November 2001 at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Lahore, after fighting cancer for two years. He is remembered as one of the best Pakistani footballers and a hero of his nation.