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LAHORE Pakistan have been placed in Group 'B' as the organisers announced the draws of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), which is being held at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka from Dec 4 to 14.
The other teams in the same pool are Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the hosts.
Pakistan's arch-rivals India are in group 'A' so there will be no clash between the two neighbouring countries in the first round. In all, eight nations of the region are participating in the event. They have been divided into two pools.
The draws ceremony was held in Dhaka this week and Pakistan was represented by Syed Khadim Ali Shah, the senior vice president of SAFF and PFF secretary Col (r) Ahmad Yar Lodhi.
Pool 'A' comprises India, Nepal, Maldives and Afghanistan.
One of the best teams in South Asian Football would be knocked out of the event from this group before semis.
It will be an uphill task to face host Bangladesh and ever-improving Sri Lanka while Bhutan is also strong. Last time the tournament was played in Dhaka in 2003 and Bangladesh emerged victorious for the first time under Austrian coach George Kottan, who is now the national coach of Pakistan.
A total of seven tournaments were played in the past and India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Maldives are the only four nations which have won the tournament.
The SAFF Championship is held biennially to promote the development of football in South Asia. Launched at Lahore's Railway Stadium in 1993 as SAARC Gold Cup; it was renamed in 1997 as the SAFF Championship.
