NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Pakistan meet archrivals India in the opener of the Group ‘G’ qualifiers of under-17 Asian Cup soccer on Sunday. Tajikistan and India are being dubbed favourites, while Pakistan are the third team in three-match Nov 13 to 17 tournament to be played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The title winners will progress to next year’s Asia Cup finals to be held in Singapore.

India play Pakistan in opener on Sunday after which Tajikistan will clash with Pakistan Tuesday. The third and last encounter will be between India and Tajikistan Thursday, which could well decide as to who progresses to finals in Singapore.

A total of 41 teams entered qualifying rounds of championship and were split into 14 qualifying groups, which were further divided across four regional zones.

The 14 group winners will join host Singapore in final rounds next year.

Pakistan’s 18-member team came after a preparatory camp. Led by Muhammad Ahmed, the team arrived on Friday night.

Schedule:

Nov 13: India vs Pakistan.

Nov 15: Pakistan vs Tajikistan.

Nov 17: India vs Tajikistan.

Pakistan: Zaid Arif, M. Irfan, Adil, Shoaib Qasim, Atif Hussain, Rai Akmal Shahzad, Muhammad Ahmed (captain), Zohaib Khan, Shahzad, Abbas Ali, Wasim Jan, Safdar Hussain.Ali, Ishtiaq, Hikmet Ullah, Fahad Ullah Khan, Jahan Zaib, Fareed Baloch, Ehsan Ullah.—PPI