KARACHI: Minutes after the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced the squad for the ‘Clash of the Titans’ series between Pakistan and India to be played in the United Kingdom, its official sponsors TouchSky Sports postponed the event.
“We are very disappointed by the postponement and that too at the last minute when the team had been announced and we were about to leave for Islamabad to catch our flight to England on Saturday,” said an annoyed Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Director Marketing & Event Management Sardar Naveed Haider Khan while speaking to Dawn.com on Thursday evening.
Naveed Haider had been working with the organisers from the time the very idea of holding a football series between the traditional rivals was first conceived earlier in May. “It was a great opportunity for our players to expose and showcase their talent on the big canvas. The matches were expected to be watched by big crowds, not to mention the leading coaches and local club officials who are always scouting for fine talent,” he said.
“We contacted All India Football Federation [AIFF] as soon we found out about the postponement and they feel the same way we do. Actually it is even worse for them as their Canada series was recently cancelled, too,” he added.
Recognising the existence of a large community of people from the subcontinent in England, the organisers initially planned three friendly matches between the two countries to be held in July. But later it was moved ahead to September while the matches were also reduced to two, one at Derby on Sept 3 and the other at Glasgow on Sept 9. And now it has been postponed yet again.
About the reason for the latest postponement, the PFF director marketing said that they were given an excuse which he really didn’t buy.
“The first match to be held at Derby FC’s Pride Park on Sept 3 was dedicated to the memory of the three Pakistani victims of Birmingham [Haroon Jehan, Shehzad Ali and Abdul Musavir], who lost their lives during the recent violence in England. We have been told that their families didn’t want the organisers to hold any match in their memory until their chehlum,” said Naveed Haider.
“But they could have told us this earlier. Besides, the unfortunate killings hadn’t even happened when the series was planned with the first match to be held on Sept 3, which happens to be FIFA Day,” he added.
“I really don’t think this is the real reason even though it is the official reason given to us. TouchSky Sports is a FIFA-licensed organiser of international matches. They wouldn’t postpone such a big event at the 11th hour for this reason alone. What I think has really happened is that this was a big commercial venture and the recent violence in England has effected its commercial viability. Even though things are much calmer there now, it will take some time for commercial activity such as this to pick up,” Naveed Haider thought aloud.
About the PFF’s next step, Naveed Haider said: “We can send them take legal action but that really cannot be my personal decision. It is something that should be decided by the PFF and the AIFF and their congress or individual bodies. It is something which remains to be seen,” he explained.
Asked if they even could sue them or ask for compensation when the organisers were themselves sponsoring the Pakistan and Indian squads’ tours, he said: “They were paying for our travel and accommodation but what about the other efforts made by us such as holding camp, calling international players, etc. And what about wasting our time?” He reasoned.
The event was expected to be a much hyped affair with boxing champion Amir Khan expected to lead the Pakistan contingent while bhangra musician Jazzy B was doing the needful for India. According to reports 10,000 tickets had already been sold as well.
Meanwhile, the PFF on Thursday had announced a 22-member team for the tour with a new captain in foreign midfielder Adnan Farooq Ahmad.
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