February 20, 2003	Thursday	Zul Hijjah 18, 1423

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LAHORE, Feb 19: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has changed the dates of the Olympic pre-qualifying round matches on Pakistan’s request.

After the change, the pre-qualifying round matches between Pakistan and Syria will be played in Damascus from April 16 to 19 instead of April 5 to 19.

The event has been rescheduled as it was clashing with the SAF Games to be held in Islamabad from March 29 to April 7.

AFC had earlier refused to change the dates on Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) request, but accepted the plea later.

AFC has also changed the dates of other south Asian countries participating in the SAF Games and the qualifying rounds. But surprisingly it gives a weak (April 12 to 19) to other SAF countries for two matches but only four days to Pakistan.

The qualifying rounds will be held in 12 countries. The winners will enter the second qualifying round.

Schedule of first round (the first country is the host):

April 5-19: Turkmenistan v India; Lebanon v Jordan; Taiwan v Singapore; Kyrgyzstan v Yemen; Iraq v Vietnam; Nepal v Palestine; Iran v Maldives; Oman v Cambodia; United Arab Emirates v Tajkistan.

April 12-19: Hong Kong v Sri Lanka; Myanmar v Bangladesh; Iran v Maldives.

April 16-19: Syria v Pakistan.