March 30, 2002	Saturday	Muharram 15, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, March 29: For the second time in five months, the executives of the South Asian Sports Federation (SASF) have gathered in Islamabad to fix dates for the SAF Games which have had to be postponed twice.

Delegates from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan have all arrived here to attend what will be the 27th Executive Committee meeting of the federation Saturday.

The meeting gained added significance when the Indian delegation announced it would discuss resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan on the sidelines of the SASF moot.

The SAF Games were to take place in October last year but had to be postponed because of the events that unfolded in the aftermath of September 11 and the regional bonanza was rescheduled for March this year.

However, again the situation in the region was not thought to be conducive for the Games to be organised following rising tensions between Pakistan and India.

But the officials of the SAF Games Organising Committee are now quietly hoping that the Games would finally be able to take place, although not likely during the current year.

This year’s Commonwealth Games and the Asiad would leave little room for the SAF Games. The last week of February 2003 therefore is said to be the most appropriate time to hold the event.