Ryan Giggs played an exhibition match in Pakistan on Saturday. The match was part of a push to encourage people in the cricket-mad nation to take up football.

What happened?

The group dubbed "Ronaldinho and friends" included former Manchester United stalwart Ryan Giggs, former England goalkeeper David James, and Dutch star George Boateng.

They played an exhibition match in Karachi, which was attended by thousands of fans. The match was the first of two games in the trip.

Why it matters for Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs, who retired in 2014, said he had heard the country had ample footballing talent and was home to a strong Manchester United fanbase.

The Pakistani organisers hope to promote football and signal that security has improved in the country. The visit is seen as a goodwill mission aimed at inducing youngsters to play the game.

What comes next?

The group will play a second exhibition match in Lahore on Sunday. The Pakistani Army is deploying troops in and around hotels, airports, and stadiums over the weekend.

Ryan Giggs and the other players were hosted for lunch by army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, who expressed hope that the visit would be the first of many.

The match is part of a larger effort to promote football in Pakistan, which boasted a top place in Asian football until the early 1970s.

But a lack of government support and poor infrastructure helped push them to as low as 200th in the FIFA football rankings.

The game is growing in popularity once more, however, even in a country obsessed with cricket. Ronaldinho, 37, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2005, said he is on a goodwill mission aimed at inducing youngsters to play the game.

The visit is seen as a significant step towards promoting football in Pakistan. Ryan Giggs and the other players are expected to inspire a new generation of footballers in the country.

The exhibition match in Karachi was a huge success, with fans thronging to the stadium to watch the footballing greats.

The match was a rare chance for fans to watch Ronaldinho and Ryan Giggs play live. The players were greeted with cheers and applause as they took to the field.

The Pakistani organisers are hoping to build on the success of the exhibition match and promote football in the country.

They believe that the visit by Ryan Giggs and the other players will help to inspire a new generation of footballers and promote the game in Pakistan.