By Natasha Raheel
KARCHI: Determined not to follow the footsteps of the country’s cricket board, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) turned down an offer to play Uzbekistan on a neutral venue, dismissing the option as an unprofessional one.
The PFF Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi revealed that Uzbekistan wanted to play in Dubai on February 29 and March 4 but Pakistan, refusing to bear the cost of the trip, rejected the proposal.
“It’s only fair if these countries send teams to Pakistan,” Lodhi toldThe Express Tribune. “If they can’t, then they should host the series — that’s how professional teams play. Since they don’t want to host, Uzbekistan suggested we come to Dubai, which is not feasible for us. It’s very expensive and in the same amount, we can host a series conveniently.
“Malaysia and Palestine came to Pakistan last year and we hosted the matches successfully so why can’t Uzbekistan.”
Meanwhile, Lodhi said that while Pakistan misses out on international exposure on this occasion, there were three other teams interested in playing friendly series during May.
“Maldives, Sri Lanka and Nepal have asked us about friendly matches and are willing to come to Pakistan. But they’re available in May since their players are busy in the ir domestic seasons right now.”
The PFF official said that Pakistan was capable of hosting international matches and added that central Asian countries were already sending their teams for the Asian Football Confederation under-14 festival in April.
Meanwhile, the seniors’ camp that was scheduled to start from today has been delayed for a week, since the team is not playing any friendly matches.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2012.
mr ahmad khan yar lodhi pls play some friendly matches in malaysia. pakistani in malaysia the last they saw a good pakistani side was in the MEREDEKA CUP in 1962. pakistan team was in the final. the pakistanis are waiting see the team coach by a foreigner in action.
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Shame on PFF
shame on u assholes..
mubarik ho pff pakistan ki ranking 181 ho gai hai sirf 204 per phonch ker hum top per hoon gaain.
its not faisal saleh fault but secretary and directors .
Sad to see neighbours football going haywire. BTW SPORTS authority of India too has refused to pay AIFF the cost for Indian national trip to Dubai which they are already training there. They wud be playing against Oman and Azerbaizan.
o khair mubarak…yaar Allah hume in jaise baghairuton se jaldi farigh kardien aaameen
میری پاکستان فٹبال فیڈریشن سے گزارش ہے کہ برائے مہربانی آپنی ویب سائٹ ہی اپڈیٹ کر دیا کریں انٹر نیشنل میچز تو ہونے سے رہے نیشنل میچز یا کلب میچز کا سٹیٹس اور رینکنگ ہکا پتہ توچلتا رہے
ہمین نہ تو انٹر نیشنل میچز کی وڈیو دیکھنے کو ملتی ہے اور نہ ہی نیشنل یا کسی کلب کی چاہے
youtube ہو یاا یہ ویب سائٹ یا پھر PFF کی ویب سائٹ ہو
Uzbekistan playing world cup qualifier on Feb 29 , how could they play Pakistan ??
Maybe it would have been against their B team or a youth team.
Their Under 23 team defeated Philipines national team 4-0 recently. Be careful of the Uzbeks!
Total mismanagement of PFF and lathergic attitude. In this way ranking of Pakistan will never improve. Even worthless teams such as Afghanistan is ahead of Pakistan in ranking. It is total shame and embrassment. PFF needs completely revamped and reformed.