ISLAMABAD, Mar 29: Pakistan and India, expected to meet in the final of the volleyball competition of the 9th SAF Games, are to play a double league series also involving the United Arab Emirates this July.

Ch. Muhammad Yaqoob, chairman of the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) told Dawn on Monday that after that event, Pakistan and India would play a separate series of matches for which an agreement had been reached between the Dubai-based television Ten Sports.

"I had a meeting with officials of TenSports in this regard recently in the UAE who want to initiate the series on the lines of Sharjah Cup cricket tournament." There would be plenty of other action involving the two sides with Pakistan hosting their opponents for the second leg of the series before crossing borders to play in India.

In early July Pakistan will also compete in an Asian Central Zone Tournament in India. Yaqoob said that a decision on Pakistan's bid to host next year's Asian Senior Championship will be made in Saudi Arabia on April 3 where an administrative board meeting of the Asian Volleyball Confederation is being held.

Pakistan were first awarded the right to host the championship in Islamabad in 2002 but it was moved to China because of security fears. Meanwhile Yaqoob sounded hopeful of Pakistan chances in the SAF Games.

"The boys have been training hard and I expect them to do well." He said that he would have preferred four teams in Pakistan's half of the draw in a tournament in which seven teams are to compete.

The home team who face Nepal in their opening match on Tuesday, also have Sri Lanka in their group while India, Bangladesh, Maldives and Afghanistan are together in the other half. Fixtures for Tuesday: Ind v Afg (1000), Ban v Mdv (1200), Pak v Nep (1400).