NEW DELHI: India and Pakistan are to play a three-match football series in England starting on August 25 in fixtures designed to tap into support among migrant supporters.
The games will be played in Manchester, Coventry and London, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a statement on Monday.
“The tour would provide the Indian and Pakistani nationals based in England to witness their native teams in action at the ‘Home of Football’,” said Ahmer Kunwar, of organisers TouchSky Sports (TSS).
India and Pakistan are lowly footballing nations but maintain a ferocious sporting rivalry in cricket and hockey.
“Playing Pakistan is always special,” said AIFF president Praful Patel. “It’s a positive sign that we will play a bilateral football series against Pakistan. I’m sure all sporting fans are eagerly looking forward to it.”
Venues for the games have yet to be announced.
The last three-match football series between the two nations was held in 2005 in Pakistan.
Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011