ISLAMABAD, May 24: Pakistan football chief Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Tuesday that sealing a deal for live coverage of next month’s three-match series against India with an International television channel was no small achievement. “It is for the first time in Pakistan that this has happened and I think it goes to show that we are making serious efforts to promote the game in the country,” Faisal said after inaugurating the AFC Instructors’ Refereeing Course.

TenSports have earned the right to telecast the series that will see the first match being played in Quetta on June 12 followed by floodlit games in Peshawar (June 16) and Lahore (June 18).

“The purpose of organising matches under lights is to attract crowds and generate interest. Although Peshawar and Lahore centres are not equipped to hold night matches, still we have made temporary arrangements to bring in the crowds.”

The PFF has completed its preparations for holding the series but is currently seeking sponsorship.

Faisal said that on his request, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had directed some organisations to support PFF.

The PFF aims to spread the game to all cities of the country and has set itself medium and long term goals.

“We have made a calendar of activity spanning 12 months. Never before has there been so much football activity taking place in Pakistan,” he pointed out.

Faisal hoped that the year-round activity will help unearth new talent that will benefit the game in the long run.

Earlier, while inaugurating the course which is for Central and South Asia region, Faisal said that it was an honour for Pakistan to be hosting the event for the first time.

“Football in Asia, under the leadership of the AFC president has progressed by leaps and bounds and this course is another landmark for the confederation.”

India’s Milan Datta, who will conduct the course, highlighted its objectives.

“It aims to equip football instructors with the latest knowledge so that they can go back to their countries and impart training to the referees.”

The course which concludes on May 28, has attracted officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.