May 10, 2002	Friday	Safar 26, 1423

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LAHORE, May 9: Pakistan football team desperately looks for an international tournament or a tour abroad as a warm-up  for September’s Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

Pakistan footballers will take part in the Asiad after a lapse of 16 years. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), due to various reasons, has failed to invite any country or to arrange a tour ahead of the Asian Games.

The 1986 Seoul Games were the last Asiad in which the national football team participated. Pakistan soccer squad had played in the Asian Games in Manila, Tokyo and Tehran in 1954, 1958, and 1974.

A tour to South Africa from May 6 to 20 was the only scheduled activity but it was postponed till December. The tour was put off after the sponsors failed to convince India and few clubs to play Pakistan.

India is reluctant to face Pakistan in sports because of prevailing tension between the two neighbouring countries.

The PFF faces difficulty in inviting foreign teams since most of the countries have finalised their programmes before the start of the year. Besides, several countries are busy  preparing for the World Cup to be hosted jointly by Japan  and South Korea in May-June.  

Neighbouring countries, Asian number one Iran and China (No 5), having better rankings are not interested to play friendlies against Pakistan.

The PFF has invited Malaysia and Maldives but is still waiting for a response from both the countries.

The poor infrastructure in the country is another hindrance in attracting foreign teams.

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, the three participants of recently concluded Under-20 Asian qualifiers in Karachi’s People’s Sports Complex, had complained about the sandy, bumpy surface.