SAF Games football draw

Arch rivals Pakistan and India were on Tuesday drawn in separate pools for the football tournament at next month's seven-nation South Asian Federation Games.

Three-time winners, India are in Pool 'A' alongside defending champions Bangladesh and the Maldives. Pakistan is drawn in Pool B with Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Pakistan hosts the ninth SAF Games in Islamabad from October 6-15. All the seven member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation are taking part.

Formed in 1985 to promote regional cooperation, SAARC groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Football is one of the 15 sports for men in the SAF Games. The women will compete in seven disciplines, which do not include football.

Bhutan has not entered the football competition.

"The football draw was approved by the Asian Football Confederation, which cleared Nepal for the SAF Games football event," Pakistan Football Federation secretary Agha Liaquat Ali said.

Nepal was banned by the AFC because of government interference in the national football federation.

Defending champions Bangladesh will face India in the opening match on October 7 while Pakistan faces Nepal.

Bangladesh beat hosts Nepal in the final of the tournament at the eighth SAF Games in Kathmandu two years back.

The Top two teams from each pool will play the semi-finals on October 12 while the final is slated for October 14.