LAHORE, March 15: Pakistan will take on Nepal in a two-match away international football series from March 26 and 28.

All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has confirmed the hosting of the matches. Both the teams are looking to gain valuable experience prior to the second AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers 2008 and seventh SAFF Championship.

Pakistan team coach Akhtar Mohiuddin on Saturday termed the friendly series a positive step by the Pakistan Football Federation to provide the players a good exercise just ahead of two big assignments.

“The series against Nepal will help us assess the players prior to the important assignments ahead,” said Akhtar.

Currently placed at 166 in FIFA world rankings, Pakistan will find Nepal a hard nut to crack despite their 188th slot among 208 nations affiliated with FIFA.

It will be the 11th and 12th meetings between the two South Asian nations. The previous ten international matches between Pakistan and Nepal have brought three wins each for both teams while four matches have ended in draw.

Soon after the series, Pakistan will play three matches of AFC Challenge Cup in Taipei’s Chungshan Stadium from April 2-6 in Group-A qualifier where other teams are host Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka and Guam.

Meanwhile, the AFC has approved Nepal as the host of Group D matches, scheduled to be held from May 10-15 where they will take on Palestine, Cambodia and Macau.

The top teams of Group-A and D, alongwith Group-B and C leaders, will enter eight-team final rounds in India set for July 30th this year.

Both Pakistan and Nepal will also face each other in Group-A clash of the SAFF Championship on June 7 at National Stadium, Male in Maldives.—APP