LAHORE, July 10: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has decided to shift the second stage matches of the national football Challenge Cup from Karachi and Multan to Rawalpindi and Faisalabad.

The technical director of the PFF Mujahid Ullah Tareen, explained that both Karachi and Multan district bodies showed reluctance citing, that the grounds were not in perfect playing condition, as the reason.

He said that now all matches would start from July 15 instead of July 13. In all 12 teams will compete in the second stage and they have been divided into Group-I and II, each comprising six teams.

In Rawalpindi, the Group-II matches will be played at the Army Stadium.

In Faisalabad, Panthers Club Sports Complex will organize all the Group-I matches.

He said that Pakistan Air Force play Higher Education Commission in the playoff match at Islamabad on Monday to join a club of five teams which had already qualified.

They are Army, Karachi Port Trust, National Bank of Pakistan, PTCL and Sindh Government Press.

In another playoff match, Panthers Club, Faisalabad will meet Wohaib Club in Faisalabad on July 15.

The winner will qualify for the second stage to join other teams, namely, Wapda, KRL, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Police and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC).