SAFF Suzuki Cup: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan drawn in same group

India and Pakistan will cross swords against each other in the football field later this year, after being drawn together in the same group for the SAFF Suzuki Cup, South Asia's premier football competition. The arch-rivals have been placed in Group A alongside Sri Lanka and Nepal, and will clash against each other on the opening day.

The draw for the tournament, which will be held at the Trivandrum International Stadium in Kerala in December later this year, was held in New Delhi on Wednesday, 16 September. Nepal and Sri Lanka will face each other in the first match of the competition on 23 December, with India and Pakistan playing next on the same day.

The eight teams in the tournament have been divided into two groups, with Afghanistan, Maldives, Bhutan and Bangladesh in Group B. The teams will be required to play three matches in five days in the group stages, while the top two teams of each group will move into the semi-finals to be played on 31 December.

The title match of the event, organised by the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), will take place on 3 January, 2016.