LAHORE, Aug 7: A total of 132 matches will be played among 12 teams participating in the third Pakistan Premier League (PPL-2006) to be held across the country from next month.

Karachi will host 44 matches, followed by Lahore and Rawalpindi (33 matches each) while Chaman and Islamabad will organise 11 apiece.

According to a spokesman of the Pakistan Football Federation, the federation had allowed 12 teams to participate in the country's most prestigious competition.

Top ten teams of last year's league along with top two teams of fifth PFF Cup-2005 are making it a 12-team contest.

The top ten teams are Army, Wapda, Khan Research Laboratories, Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, National Bank, Pakistan Navy, Habib Bank Limited, Chaman's Afghan Club and Lahore's Hafiz Wohaib Butt Memorial Club.

Railways and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation are the other two qualifiers after finishing winners and runners-up in the 5th PFF Cup-2005.

Faisalabad's Panther Club and Pakistan Public Works Department were relegated after finishing 11th and 12th in the last PPL.

The winners of the PPL will represent the country in 3rd AFC President Cup-2007 to be held at Islamabad.

Wapda and Army had participated in last two editions of AFC President Cup in Nepal and Malaysia.