| Waqar Baloch | |
| Fullname: | Waqar Ihtisham |
| Birth Date: | 1996 3, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Faisalabad, Pakistan |
| Position: | Centre-back |
| Currentclub: | Khan Research Laboratories |
| Clubnumber: | 5 |
| Years1: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs1: | Sui Southern Gas |
| Years2: | 2018– |
| Clubs2: | Khan Research Laboratories |
| Caps2: | 21 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2024– |
| Nationalteam1: | Pakistan |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 23:00, 27 July 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 23:00, 27 July 2024 (UTC) |
Waqar Ihtisham (born 2 March 1996),[1] [2] commonly known as Waqar Baloch is a Pakistani footballer who plays as centre-back for Khan Research Laboratories and the Pakistan national team.
Baloch started playing for Pakistan Premier League departmental side Sui Southern Gas in 2017.[3]
Baloch subsequently moved to Khan Research Laboratories. In the 2018–19 season he made 21 appearances scoring a goal,[4] helping the side clinch the league title.[5]
In the 2021–22 season, he made 10 appearances scoring two goals until the league was cancelled shortly after starting. In September 2021, he netted a goal in a 6–0 victory against Karachi United at the Ibn-e-Qasim Bagh Stadium.[6]
Baloch was first called for the 2018 Asian Games preparation camp by coach Jose Antonio Nogueira, however he was unable to secure a spot in the final squad.[7] He was called again the next year for the 2019 Asian Games training camp under head coach Tariq Lutfi, although Pakistan ultimately not participated in the competition.[8]
In January 2020, Baloch was named in Pakistan's squad for a two-match friendly tour in Malaysia.[9]
In August 2022, Baloch was called up for trials with the Pakistan senior national team for a friendly against Nepal, for their first fixture in nearly three-and-a-half years because of the Pakistan Football Federation's suspension by FIFA, but failed to make it to the final squad.[10] He made his senior international debut on 6 June 2024 as a substitute in the second half against Saudi Arabia in their 0–3 home defeat at the 2026 World Cup qualification.[11] [12] [13]
Khan Research Laboratories