Karachi, Sep 9 (Inditop.com) Pakistan cricket captain Younis Khan will be his country’s football ambassador in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa, officials announced here Wednesday.
Faisal Saleh Hayat, president of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said Wednesday that Younis expressed his interest to attend next year’s football World Cup.
“The interest Younis has shown in Pakistan football is great news for us,” said Hayat, a former federal minister. “He is our cricket captain and can help raise the profile of Pakistani football,” he added.
The PFF chief said that Younis, who is a huge football fan, expressed his desire to attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup during a recent meeting with him. “We would love to take him with us to South Africa,” said Hayat.
“He will be representing Pakistan there and we look forward to it.”
Younis keenly follows international football and plays the game whenever he gets the time.
“I believe that football is a true global sport. Almost every kid plays it no matter where he lives,” said Younis.
Recently, he invited Pakistan’s football coach George Kottan at a national training camp for the Champions Trophy that was held in Lahore earlier this month.
Kottan, an Austrian, has floated the idea of having exhibition matches between cricketers and footballers to raise interest in football.
“He (Kottan) was impressed with the quality of football at our camp and said that around four or five of the cricketers are excellent football players,” said Younis.
rounak