January 19, 2008	Saturday	Muharram 09, 1429

LAHORE, Jan 18: Some 16 teams will be taking part in the AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers-2008 scheduled for May. The teams will be divided into four groups and Pakistan is placed in Group ‘A’ along with Sri Lanka, Guam and hosts Chinese Taipei.

The group toppers will qualify for the main round where they join North Korea, Turkmenistan, India and Myanmar to make it an eight-team final round. The qualifiers, besides being held in Chinese Taipei, are also being hosted by Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines and India.

India was awarded the final round after Chinese Taipei failed to confirm to the AFC its willingness to host it. The final round will be held from July 30 to August 10.

Group positions:

Group ‘A’: Chinese Taipei (hosts), Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Guam.

Group ‘B’: Philippines (hosts), Bhutan, Tajikistan, Brunei Darussalam.

Group ‘C’: Kyrgyzstan (hosts), Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Laos.

Group ‘D’: Nepal (hosts), Palestine, Cambodia, Macau.