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Premier League clubs are looking to explore the Pakistani market by ‘twinning’ with teams from the country’s new franchise competition.
The Pakistan Football League (PFL) is launching next spring with sides from the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan.
Sportsmail understands those six teams will each form partnerships with an English club and could even adopt the same colours and nicknames as their Premier League counterparts.
The six Premier League clubs involved are still to be confirmed but it is understood advanced talks are taking place with at least one of the ‘Big Six’, as well as teams from areas with a high Asian population.
It will be the first time a group of English clubs have been linked to another league in this way. Michael Owen will be announced as the PFL’s ambassador and a launch at a London stadium has been pencilled in for next month.
England legend Owen, who has signed a three-year ambassadorial role, said: ‘Pakistan’s football potential is huge and I am excited about identifying untapped talent in a nation of 220million.
The PFL will be run by Global Soccer Ventures, whose chief executive Zabe Khan previously launched the country’s first professional league, the Pakistan Premier League.
Khan said: ‘I am pleased to see Michael play a pivotal role in creating a new era of football in Pakistan. This is a striking partnership to help Pakistan move the goal posts to international development of football.’
The Premier League - helmed by chief executive Richard Masters - is hoping to grow their brand in a new market +4
The Premier League - helmed by chief executive Richard Masters - is hoping to grow their brand in a new market
Premier League sides hope the partnerships can help them grow their brands and fanbases in a largely untapped market. They also plan to use the twinning to try to engage with their own local Asian community. The Pakistan teams will benefit by being able to tap into the expertise of their Premier League partners and potentially spend time at their training facilities.
The strengthening of sporting ties between England and Pakistan comes at a time when tensions are high between the two nation’s cricket boards following England’s withdrawal from their proposed T20 tour there next month.
The ECB said in a statement they had ‘increasing concerns about travelling to the region’, but that excuse was dismissed by both the Pakistan Cricket Board and the British High Commission.
www.dailymail.co.uk
The Pakistan Football League (PFL) is launching next spring with sides from the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan.
Sportsmail understands those six teams will each form partnerships with an English club and could even adopt the same colours and nicknames as their Premier League counterparts.
The six Premier League clubs involved are still to be confirmed but it is understood advanced talks are taking place with at least one of the ‘Big Six’, as well as teams from areas with a high Asian population.
It will be the first time a group of English clubs have been linked to another league in this way. Michael Owen will be announced as the PFL’s ambassador and a launch at a London stadium has been pencilled in for next month.
England legend Owen, who has signed a three-year ambassadorial role, said: ‘Pakistan’s football potential is huge and I am excited about identifying untapped talent in a nation of 220million.
The PFL will be run by Global Soccer Ventures, whose chief executive Zabe Khan previously launched the country’s first professional league, the Pakistan Premier League.
Khan said: ‘I am pleased to see Michael play a pivotal role in creating a new era of football in Pakistan. This is a striking partnership to help Pakistan move the goal posts to international development of football.’
The Premier League - helmed by chief executive Richard Masters - is hoping to grow their brand in a new market +4
The Premier League - helmed by chief executive Richard Masters - is hoping to grow their brand in a new market
Premier League sides hope the partnerships can help them grow their brands and fanbases in a largely untapped market. They also plan to use the twinning to try to engage with their own local Asian community. The Pakistan teams will benefit by being able to tap into the expertise of their Premier League partners and potentially spend time at their training facilities.
The strengthening of sporting ties between England and Pakistan comes at a time when tensions are high between the two nation’s cricket boards following England’s withdrawal from their proposed T20 tour there next month.
The ECB said in a statement they had ‘increasing concerns about travelling to the region’, but that excuse was dismissed by both the Pakistan Cricket Board and the British High Commission.
Premier League clubs are ready to cash in on new Pakistani league
EXCLUSIVE BY DAVID COVERDALE: The Pakistan Football League (PFL) is launching next spring with sides from the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan.
