South Asian giants plan football promotion series for their expatriates in England

An innovative joint marketing effort by the All India Football Federation and the Pakistan Football Federation, will promote football to over 2 million of their countries' compatriates and their decendents living in England through three international friendlies.

The series, to run from 25 August to 11 September with matches scheduled (but not yet confirmed) in Manchester, Coventry and London, will be the first between the two teams at a neutral venue.

"Playing Pakistan is always special," AIFF president Praful Patel said in a statement. "It's a positive sign that we will play a bilateral football series against Pakistan. I'm sure all sporting fans are eagerly looking forward to it."

The last bilateral series between the two teams was played in Pakistan in 2005.

The most recent game between the two was an AFC Challenge Cup qualifier in Malaysia in March this year which India won 3-1.