Defending Champions India have been drawn to begin their campaign against arch rivals Pakistan on the opening day of the 2013 SAFF Championship football tournament at Kathmandu's Dashrath Stadium from September 1.
India are clubbed with hosts Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan in Group A of the championship while Afghanistan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan have been clubbed in Group B, in the draw that was done Tuesday in Kathmandu.
The semi-finals are slated for Sep 8 while and the final for Sep 11.
India are scheduled to play their second match Sep 3 against Bangladesh while the final group league match against hosts Nepal is slated for Sep 5.
GROUP A: India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh
GROUP B: Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bhutan
Fixtures (all timings in IST):
Sep 1: India vs Pakistan (3.15pm); Nepal vs Bangladesh (6.15pm)
Sep 2: Afghanistan vs Bhutan (3.15pm); Maldives vs Sri Lanka (6.15pm)
Sep 3: Pakistan vs Nepal (3.15pm); Bangladesh vs India (6.15pm)
Sep 4: Bhutan vs Maldives (3.15pm); Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (6.15pm)
Sep 5: India vs Nepal (3.15pm); Bangladesh vs Pakistan (6.15pm)
Sep 6: Afghanistan vs Maldives (3.15pm); Sri Lanka vs Bhutan (6.15pm)
Sep 8: Semi-final (winner Group A vs runners-up Group B) (3.15pm); winner Group B vs runners-up Group A (6.15pm)
Sep 11: Final
