NEW DELHI, Aug 6: India will again get a chance to play against Pakistan, soon after the Champions Trophy hockey tournament, in the Asia Cup whose winner will win a spot in the 2006 World Cup.

The India-Pakistan match, always a mouth-watering proposition, will be the second in a space of one month as both are due to play in the Champions trophy in Amstelveen later this month.

India, who have been drawn in pool B of the Asia cup, scheduled to be held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Sept 21 to 28, will take on Pakistan in their last league match on Sept 24.

India, who finished second to South Korea at the Busan Asian Games last year, are the top seed in the group which has Pakistan, Bangladesh and China. South Koreans lead group A which also has Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong.

The tour opener on Sept 21 will be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh while India will open their campaign in the competition with a match against China later in the day.

India’s next match, on Sept 22, will be against Bangladesh. The final would be played on Sept 28 and the winner of the meet will get an automatic berth for the 2006 World Cup.—PPI