Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Faisal Saleh Hayat’s withdrawal from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) vice-presidency polls against his Indian counterpart Praful Patel has resulted in Pakistan being rewarded with several international tours, it emerged on Thursday.

“Hayat’s decision to drop out of the race was to preserve the unity of the SAFF region,” PFF marketing consultant and Punjab Football Association (PFA) chief Sardar Naveed Haider Khan told Dawn from the Bahrain capital of Manama where the AFC Congress was held on Thursday.

Hayat dropping out of the race for the vice-presidency slots saw him retain his AFC Executive Committee seat for the next four-year term from 2015-2019. But Pakistan has also get a few other things in return — namely international tours.

“We’ve had an offer from the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) for a tournament there,” added Sardar Naveed.

“Similarly, SAFF president and Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) chief Kazi Salahuddin has agreed to a three-match series there in July.

“Salahuddin wanted the SAFF region to be united which is why he asked Hayat to withdraw from contesting against Patel.”

But the biggest offer has come from All India Football Federation (AIFF) chief Patel who was elected the AFC vice-president from the South Zone.

“Three Pakistan players will be inducted in the Indian Super League (ISL) next season,” said Sardar Naveed.

“I reminded Patel that there was also a deal for Pakistan players to be inducted in the inaugural edition of the cash-rich ISL last season which never happened.

“But he’s assured me that there will be opportunities for Pakistan players next season.”

Also in the offing is a two-match bilateral football series between Pakistan and India.

“I think this year’s calendar is too tight but hopefully early next year, India will tour Pakistan for the series.”