KARACHI, Jan 26: Pakistan football team will tour Sri Lanka to play a series of three matches as part of their preparation for the South Asian Federation Games, an official said Saturday.

“We are thankful to the Sri Lankan Football Federation for providing us a chance to play matches there and it would help the team to get ideal preparation for the SAF Games”, Pakistan Football Federation secretary Agha Liaquat Ali told SADA.

Pakistan’s preparation for the IXth SAF Games, due in Islamabad in March-April this year, were badly hit after the cancellation of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup.

Bangladesh, was due to host the event but after it was suspended by the International Football Federation (FIFA), which forced Bangladesh had to cancel the event.

“FIFA representative, Mani Lal Fernando, also an official of SLFF, helped us get into the series in Sri Lanka,” he said.

Pakistan team is also scheduled to play a series in South Africa in October this year.—SADA