AFC Challenge Cup draw released

Strong contenders India will join Chinese Taipei, the Philippines and Afghanistan in Group A of the maiden AFC Challenge Cup.

The draws for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Nepal and Bangladesh, was held last week at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

The tournament features 16 'emerging' countries, divided into four groups, and will run from March 25 to April 9, 2006.

Group A comprises India, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines and Afghanistan while co-hosts Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Brunei are in Group B. Co-hosts Bangladesh are alongside Palestine, Cambodia and Guam in Group C while two the Central Asian countries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have been drawn in Group D with Pakistan and Macau. Groups A and B will be played in Nepal while the matches of Groups C and D will be held in Bangladesh.

The match schedule will be issued shortly.

Groups Group A) India, Chinese Taipei, Philippines, Afghanistan. (Group B) Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Brunei. (Group C) Palestine, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Guam. (Group D) Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Macau.