PPFL’s fate hanging in the balance [Express Tribune]

PPFL’s fate hanging in the balance [Express Tribune]

By Natasha Raheel,

KARACHI: With the resignation of Pervaiz Mir Saeed from Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Director Development and Competitions post, the fate of the 11th edition of the Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) hangs in a precarious balance.

Mir implied that since there are no events for him to organise, it was best to quit the job.

The latest development in Pakistan’s football scenario indicates that the PFF’s legal battle to regain control over their bank accounts from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) may take longer than expected.

So far, the federation has indefinitely postponed the inaugural Women’s Premier Football League due to lack of funds since the accounts are frozen, and the men’s football has come to a standstill.

According to the PFF activity calendar issued earlier this year, the 11th edition of the PPFL was set to feature the country’s top 10 teams beginning in August.

“The coaches and the players are ready for the season. We are with the PPFL but I think the federation isn’t,” last year’s runners-up Army coach Shafqat Mehmood told The Express Tribune. “If the political and legal tug-of-war in the federation continues, there will be no league for us to play.”

Mehmood said that the cancellation of the league will be a huge setback. “Despite the league not being of the standard we wish for, it should take place. PPFL can be compared to water, which starts to stink if it becomes stagnant.”

On the other hand, PFF secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said that the cancellation of the league is unlikely. “Everything depends on the case with the FIA,” he said.

PPFL’s last season’s total cost came to Rs13.6 million and according to Lodhi, the PFF has enough money to run their scheduled events throughout the year.