Pakistan to host Palestine for two friendlies

E-Paper | May 04, 2026

pakistan football, pakistan football federation, pff, pakistan palestine football, pakistan palestine fifa, pakistan fifa, fifa, football

Palestinian supporters wave their flags during an International friendly between Palestine and Pakistan in Lahore on March 1, 2011. -Photo by AFP

KARACHI: Pakistan will host two friendly matches against Palestinian footballers in hopes of reviving international sport in the country, hit hard by Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked violence, an official said Saturday.

ALSO READ: PFF hints at shifting FIFA games from Lahore

International sportsmen stopped coming to Pakistan after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in Lahore in March 2009, killing eight Pakistanis and wounding seven of the visiting players, and their assistant coach.

Pakistan Football Federation secretary Ahmed Lodhi said: “We are delighted to host Palestine for two friendly matches between October 14-18 and hope that the tour will send a good message to the world that our country is safe for international sports.”

Lodhi said the visit followed a Palestinian tour last year involving two matches against a Pakistan Under-22 team.

“It is a good sign that teams have found Pakistan a safe place and we look forward to hosting more teams in the future,” said Lodhi.

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Mr.T

Oct 06, 2012 01:21pm

It's good that Pakistani's are calling those who are already at the war zone, i think if this case they should call all war zone countries for all type of friendly sports...

Recommend 0

kashmiri brit

Oct 07, 2012 11:48am

terrorism, murders, corruption, hooliganism is sending pakistan backwards. From top down there needs to be a sincere drive to wipe this extreme behaviour out of the country.

Recommend 0

Asad Raza

Oct 06, 2012 11:14am

hope everything turns out safely and pakistan put on a good show!

Recommend 0

Jones

Oct 07, 2012 02:09pm

blind leading blind

Recommend 0

urawal

Oct 06, 2012 10:05am

Palestine..............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!............................

Recommend 0

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