LAHORE, March 12: Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Iran have confirmed their participation in the 11th Tour de Pakistan International cycle race to be held from March 24 to April 5.

Pakistan Cycle Federation (PCF) secretary, Idrees Haider Khawaja, said on Wednesday that the invitation was extended to 13 countries but only three had confirmed participation.

Idrees said that Irani cyclists had good standard and that would help Pakistanis to learn. However, the Pakistani cyclists were good as compared to Bangladeshi and Afghanistan, he said.

The race will start from Mazar-i-Quaid, Karachi, on March 24. After covering a total distance of 1934 kilometres in eleven stages, the race will conclude at Bab-e-Khyber, Peshawar, on April 5.