LAHORE, Dec 31: Pakistan will play all their matchesin the Asia Cup Under-17 cricket tournament at Bangalore, India. The tournament will also be played in three other Indian cities - Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad and Chennai between Jan 13 and 27.

The tournament is being played in two rounds. In the first, round, 16 Associated member countries are taking part. The winners of each pool will join the four Test-playing countries (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) in the second round making it an eight-team contest.

The eight teams are divided into two groups and the top two from each group will qualify for the semifinals. In the second round, Pakistan has been placed with India along with the winners of groups 'A' and 'C'.

Bangladesh, SriLanka and the winners of groups 'B' and 'D' form the other pool. Pakistan will play India on Jan 22 after arriving in Bangalore on Jan 17.

The schedule of Pakistan's group matches is:

Jan 19: Pakistan v Pool 'C' winners; India v Pool 'A' winners.

Jan 20: Pakistan v Pool 'A' winners; India v Pool 'C' winners

Jan 22: Pakistan v India; Pool 'A' winners v Pool 'C' winners

Jan 25: Semifinals.

Jan 27: Final.

Groupings for first round are:

Pool 'A': Malaysia, Nepal, Qatar, Brunei.

Pool 'B': UAE, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Oman.

Pool 'C': Singapore, Iran, Thailand, Bahrain.

Pool 'D': Hong Kong, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Maldives.

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...