The 2022 World Cup host Qatar will provide technical and professional assistance to Pakistan to help develop football in the country, an official said Monday. Despite being a popular sport, lack of government support and infrastructure has held back the game's progress in the country, where cricket is the number one passion.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said Qatar has promised to help lift the sport after a high-level Qatari delegation met with local authorities. The support includes youth development, training of coaches and development of women's football, it added. Pakistan is planning to launch a football league along the lines of the cash-rich the Indian Premier League for Twenty20 cricket, pending the signing of a sponsorship deal. The country is 171st in the FIFA world rankings.