28 April 2005	Thursday	18 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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KARACHI, April 27: After failing to get a green signal to host the AFC President Cup and a test match against India, Karachi’s Peoples Sports Complex has been chosen to serve as a venue for the upcoming 6th South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship in December, Chairman, Sindh Football Association, Ghulam Abbas Baloch said on Wednesday.

This year’s cup will feature holders Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan and hosts Pakistan.

Launched at Lahore in 1993, the biennial championship has returned to Pakistan after 12 years. Of the previous five editions, India has won three times with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh each capturing the title once.

According to a SFA official, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) which was awarded the event by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has bestowed the honour to Sindh. The exact dates of the competition will be announced later.

This will be the first big event of its nature to be played at the Peoples Sports Complex since its commissioning. Very few matches have been played on it in the past.

Baloch, who is also vice-president PFF, disclosed that a SAFF delegation will arrive here in the second week of next month to inspect the facilities at the venue.

An AFC delegation had given a negative report pertaining to the facilities at Peoples Sports Complex to host the AFC President Cup which was finally awarded to Nepal.

According to the format, eight teams will be equally drawn into two pools. Top two teams will qualify for the semifinals after playing matches on round robin league

Meanwhile, Abbas Baloch has drawn the attention of higher authorities of the provincial and city government to help renovate the facilities in order to organize the event in a befitting manner.

In a communication to Sindh Governor, city nazim, provincial sports minister, director general Rangers, Sindh minister for local bodies, etc he said that as the playing field was not in use for quite some time, it needs renovation on urgent basis.