Karachi: Uncertainty prevails over the proposed friendly series between the Indian and Pakistan football teams, scheduled to be held in England next month, as the AIFF is yet to obtain the government's No Objection Certificate for it.
While the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has claimed that the series is still on, its counterparts from Pakistan said it is unlikely to be held as the AIFF was yet to get the No Objection Certificate from the Indian government.
"The matches are still on but we are yet to get confirmation of dates from the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). We are awaiting a word from them," said AIFF general secretary Kushal Das.
An official of the PFF, however, said the series, scheduled to be held from July 8 to 18 in England, may be shifted to September.
"We are still waiting as the AIFF are yet to get any green signal from its government. Now, it won't be possible to hold the series in July and efforts would be made to conduct it from September 2-12," Director (Marketing and Event Management) of the PFF, Sardar Naveed Haider, was quoted as saying in The News.
The series was approved by the AIFF during its executive committee meeting last month.
The newspaper, quoting PFF sources, said the sponsors TouchSky Sports, which is a UEFA and FIFA-recognised company, are facing some problems in holding the series.
"I feel that the sponsors are unable to handle the task," a source said.
However, Haider, who was behind this major deal, ruled out such an impression.
"Not at all. It's not the reason. TouchSky Sports is a major and an efficient company and it is there and is ready to hold it," he said.
The last time Pakistan hosted India was in 2005 for a three-match series, which it won on goal-difference after both teams won a match each while the game in Quetta, ended in a 1-1 draw.
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