Colombo, Jun 12: India will host the sixth edition of the SAAF Championship next year, announced the South Asian Football Federation.

Announcing this here yeserday, SAFF general secretary Sirajul Islam Bachchu, also a member of Bangladesh Football Federation, said the decision was taken in the SAFF executive committee meeting three months before. However, Bachchu added that the date will be finalised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). ''The date has not been decided yet. The AIFF has to find a suitable date based on their league,'' said Bachchu adding that the most feasible time in his opinion would be in December 2009.

India will become the first nation to host the tournament twice after staging the second edition of SAFF Championship - which was originally the SAARC regional tournament before the inclusion of Afghanistan in 2003.

UNI