Leisure Leagues plans to bring Messi to Pakistan

KARACHI: Leisure Leagues also plans to bring in Pakistan mega football star Lionel Messi next year, a credible source told ‘The News’ on Wednesday.

“There has been talk between Leisure Leagues and Messi and it is likely that the Pakistani fans will see the world’s greatest star play here next year,” the source said. The source said that Messi had expressed his desire to bring two teams to play matches in Pakistan.

Messi, an Argentinean national, represents Barcelona. Ronaldinho and friends will start assembling in Dubai on Friday (tomorrow) to visit Pakistan on Saturday (tomorrow) to play a couple of exhibition matches in Karachi and Lahore on July 8 and 9, respectively.

The touring party will land in Islamabad and after meeting with the Army Chief at the GHQ will come to Karachi to play a 90-minute game under floodlights here at the Abdul Sattar Edhi Hockey Stadium.

Pakistan’s military will provide security to the touring party. A source said that Ronaldinho has been allotted a free room by the hotel where he and his friends will stay.