At a time when Pakistan and Indian cricket boards and hockey federations are desperately trying to resume bilateral ties, the football bodies of the two countries seem to have been able to break the ice by agreeing to play three friendlies in England.
A top AIFF official said on Friday that it has accepted an invitation from the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), subject to government clearance, to play the three matches, one of them in Manchester. “The tour will go ahead subject to clearance from the ministry of home affairs,” AIFF said in a statement. “The friendship series will be played in different stadiums in England, one of them in Manchester, and the AIFF will get 10,000 pounds as appearance fee for each match.”
The matches will help the national team prepare for their crucial 2014 World Cup first round qualifier against United Arab Emirates.
