ISLAMABAD, March 23: Nepal will meet Bhutan in the opening match of the SAF Games football at Army Stadium, Rawalpindi, on March 27, it was announced on Tuesday after the draws of the competition held at Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Conference Hall.

The teams are divided in two pools:

Pool A: Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan

Pool B: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan

Maldives is not participating in the tournament

Schedule:

March 27: Nepal v Bhutan 3 p.m.

March 28: India v Bangladesh 11:30am; Pakistan v Afghanistan 3pm in Peshawar.

March 29: Sri Lanka v Nepal 3 p.m.

From March 30 all the matches will be played in Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.

March 30: Bangladesh v Afghanistan 6.30pm; Pakistan v India 8.30pm

April 1: Pakistan v Bangladesh 6:30pm; India v Afghanistan 8:30pm

April 3: Semifinals 6.30pm; 9.30pm

April 5: Third position match 6.30pm; Final 9:30pm

BD contingent arrive

The first batch of a 65-strong Bangladesh contingent arrived on Monday to participate in the SAF Games, scheduled to commence from March 29-April 7. The Bangladesh contingent was warmly received at Islamabad airport by the representatives of SAF Games. -APP