Pakistani football legend Masood Fakhri passes away

KARACHI: Masood Fakhri, one of most prolific footballer of Pakistan, the first one to score a hat-trick in an international game for the country, has passed away in Wales. He was 84.

Fakhri, who played at left-out position, was considered as one of the best footballers produced by Pakistan, along with Qayum Changezi.

Born in 1932, near Toba Tek Singh, started football in 1949 and quickly claimed the fame and was picked to wear country’s color in 1952 for a four-nation tournament in Colombo.

Masood Fakhri was first Pakistani to score a hat-trick in an international Football match. He achieved this feat during Pakistan’s 6-2 win against Singapore in 1954 Asian Games, in Manila – Philippines.

He also played football for region’s well-known club East Bengal. However, in 1956 he moved to UK and then settled here.