KATHMANDU: Nepal have been pitted in Group ‘A’ of the upcoming SAFF Suzuki Cup 2018 (SAFF Championship) to be held in Bangladesh from September 4 to 15 this year.

In a draw of the sub-continental football tournament held in Bangladeshi capital Dhaka on Wednesday, Nepal were drawn with hosts Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan. Likewise, seven-time champions India are pitted in Group B along with Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Nepal will face Pakistan in the opening match of the tournament on September 4 and compete against Bhutan two days later. Likewise, Nepal will take on Bangladesh in their last group stage match on September 8. Bangabandhu Stadium will host all the matches of the competition with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semi-finals.

India are the defending champions of the SAFF Suzuki Cup, as they defeated Afghanistan in the summit clash on their home ground in 2015. Afghanistan are not taking part in the sub-regional event this time as they have joined Central Asian Football Federation.

Nepal have never reached the final of the tournament and in the latest 11th edition, they failed to win a single match in the group stage.

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) changed the name of the tournament from the last edition with Suzuki Motor Corporation coming in as the title sponsor.