LAHORE, Feb 9: Organizers on Sunday expressed confidence SAF Games would be held as scheduled despite three countries, including India, had not sent their entries after the deadline.

India, Nepal and Bhutan are yet to send their entries, although the deadline was Jan 31. Islamabad will host the March 29 to April 7 Games.

Chairman organising committee Lt-Gen Arif Hassan said “delay in sending the entries by the three countries does not mean they are not coming to Pakistan”.

He hoped all the eight countries would take part in the Games but added the event would be organized even in the absence of any country.

Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the Maldives have already sent their entries.

Arif said 75 per cent target of achieving the funds for the Games through different schemes had been achieved. He, however, said he could not predict exact profit organizers were expecting from the Games.