Bangladesh drawn with Lebanon, Maldives and Bhutan in SAFF C'ship

Bangladesh have comparatively been drawn in an easier group in the upcoming SAFF Championship, scheduled for June 21 to July 4 in Bengaluru, India. 

Bangladesh find themselves in Group B comprising Lebanon, two-time champions Maldives, and Bhutan following the draw in India today. 

Meanwhile, Group A features eight-time champions India, debutant Kuwait, spirited Nepal, and the tournament's lowest-ranked team -- Pakistan. 

After the round-robin league matches, top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals. Bangladesh, who did not get out of group stage in the last five editions, have a good chance to advance to the semifinal stage considering how the men in red and green won against Bhutan and Maldives in recent outings.

As the host nation, India were given a direct entry to Group A before debutant Lebanon was placed in Group B.

On the basis of FIFA ranking, then rest of the six teams were kept in different three pots to finalise groups by lotteries picked by SAFF general secretary Anwarul Haq Helal,  All Indian Football Federation president Kalyan Choubery, and AIIF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran.