Imran Niazi

Imran Niazi
Personal information
Date of birth	November 17, 1985 (age 39)
Place of birth	Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team
2003–2004	Afghan Chaman
2004–2014	WAPDA
Total
International career
2003	Pakistan U20
2004–2007	Pakistan U23
2005–2011	Pakistan
Medal record
Representing Pakistan
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Imran Niazi (born November 17, 1986) is a Pakistani former footballer who played as a midfielder.^[1]

Club career

Niazi began his career in 2003 at Afghan FC Chaman.^[1]

After the conclusion of re-branded Pakistan Premier League, he joined five-time national champions WAPDA.^[1] Niazi won three Pakistan Premier League titles with WAPDA, in 2007–08, 2008–09 and 2010–11.^[2]^[3] He also played at the AFC President Cup with the club.

Niazi was first called up to the Pakistan under-23 national team for the 2004 South Asian Games, where he helped Pakistan win the gold medal.^[5]

He made his senior international debut in the 2005 SAFF Championship against Bangladesh.^[1]

In 2007, Niazi was also present with the Pakistan under-23 team at the Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics Qualifiers where his side beat Singapore in a home and away series to qualify for the second round.^[6]

In 2008, Niazi was named the Pakistan national team vice-captain for the 2008 SAFF Championship with Zahid Hameed as captain.^[7] He was also vice-captain in a friendly against Malaysia at the end of the year, under Muhammad Essa's captaincy.^[8]

After last playing against India at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification, he was dropped from the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification against Bangladesh.

Appearances and goals by year and competition^[1]
National team	Year	Apps
Pakistan	2005	6
	2006	3
	2007	2
	2008	6
	2011	1
Total		18

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Imran Niazi (Player)". www.national-football-teams.com.
^ Hai Naveed, Malik Riaz (July 31, 2008). "Pakistan 2007/08 (National Tournaments)". RSSSF. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
^ Hai Naveed, Malik Riaz (July 16, 2009). "Pakistan 2008/09 (National Tournaments)". RSSSF. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
^ "Fifty invited for Under-20 camp". DAWN.COM. 2003-09-03. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
^ "9th South Asian Federation Games 2004 (Pakistan)". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
^ "Win against Singapore a memorable one, says captain". DAWN.COM. 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
^ "Pakistan to include four overseas players for SAFF championship". DAWN.COM. 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
^ "Pakistan football squad off to Malaysia". DAWN.COM. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2024-03-17.