Pakistan, India to meet in only one match in UK

Series to be played between the teams in London was initially of 3 matches.

KARACHI: The planned three-match football series between India and Pakistan in the UK has been derailed and the two countries will now play just one match of the scheduled tie at Derby on September 3.

A senior official of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) confirmed that due to logistical issues and the holy month of Ramazan, just one Test would now be played between the two countries on September 3.

"Everything is in place we have got the sponsorship for the match which is being televised live in both countries but due to Ramazan we can have only one match," Sardar Naved, the marketing and event management consultant of the PFF told media.

He said the PFF was keen on playing all the three Tests despite the delay due to Ramazan but the All India Football Federation had made it clear that its team was only available until September 11.

"The Indians are holding a premier league tournament at home and their players have to fly back home in time for the event so they have agreed to just one match for now," Sardar Naved said.

Originally, the two bodies had planned three matches from August 25 to September 11 but Naved said the Muslim community in the United Kingdom told the PFF, crowds would not show up due to Ramazan.

He said the Pakistan team would now play two other matches against local English clubs on the tour to the UK after their Test against India.

"The tour is costing nothing to the PFF as the organisers are providing for everything including boarding-lodging, travelling, daily allowances and even an appearance fee to the PFF," Naved said.