April 20, 2006	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21, 1427

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LAHORE, April 19: Pakistan will play Bangladesh and Bhutan on the opening day of the AFC U-14 football festival at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, on Saturday.

As hosts, Pakistan is allowed to field two teams — Pakistan and Pakistan-A — in the six-team event.

The other teams are Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan besides Bangladesh.

The 'A' team will be facing Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on the first day.

The event is part of a step to organise AFC U-15 championship in the future.

Twenty-seven matches will be played in the five-day long festival (April 22-26).

The first 18 ties will be of 30 minutes duration, while the remaining nine of 60 minutes. The managerial meeting will be held on April 21.

But the win or loss will not be counted as there will be no trophy for the winners in the festival. However, the players will be awarded with green cards to promote fair play and sporting behaviours.

Format-I (30-minute matches):

Saturday: Pakistan v Bangladesh; Nepal v Bhutan; Pakistan A v Sri Lanka; Pakistan v Bhutan; Bangladesh v Sri Lanka; Nepal v Sri Lanka; Pakistan A v Bangladesh; Pakistan v Nepal; Pakistan A v Bhutan.

Sunday: Bangladesh v Nepal; Pakistan v Sri Lanka; Pakistan A v Bhutan; Bangladesh v Sri Lanka; Pakistan A v Nepal; Pakistan v Bhutan; Pakistan A v Bangladesh; Pakistan v Nepal; Bhutan v Sri Lanka.

Format II ( 60 minutes matches):

Tuesday: Bangladesh v Nepal; Pakistan A v Sri Lanka; Pakistan v Nepal; Bangladesh v Sri Lanka; Pakistan A v Bhutan.

Wednesday: Pakistan v Sri Lanka; Nepal v Bhutan. Pakistan v Pakistan A; Bangladesh v Bhutan.