Pakistani female football star Shahlyla Baloch passes away

Pakistan ace striker Shahlyla Ahmadzai Baloch, on 13 October, passed away in a car accident which occurred late 12 October night in Karachi's DHA Phase VIII area.

According to a report in The Express Tribune, Baloch, 20, was in the passenger seat when the car slid. The news of her demise was confirmed by a family member. "It is true that she passed away," the relative was quoted as saying by Express Tribune.

Baloch was considered as one of the finest strikers of Pakistan's national football team and Balochistan United FC. Playing for the team, she donned the iconic number 7 jersey. It was her stint in Maldives in 2014 SAFF Women's Championship, where she became the first Pakistan female footballer to score a hat-trick against Bhutan, which made her famous.

Express Tribune, following her hat-trick against Bhutan on 1 June, quoted Baloch as saying, "Coaches from other clubs also approached me to sign up for them. So it was a good experience and also an affirmation that we have football talent in Pakistan. I'm just glad that I've been able to prove that."

She represented her country at the South Asian Football Federation Women Football Championship 2014 in Islamabad - her last international event.