India are to revive the Nehru Cup tournament later this month, bringing back the international event after a 10-year absence.
Organisers of the Aug. 17-29 competition are hoping the hosts can gain useful exposure and ranking points in the evenly matched event featuring Syria, Kyrgystan, Cambodia and Bangladesh, teams ranked between 113 and 172 in the world.
Newly crowned Asian Cup champions Iraq won the last Nehru Cup in 1997.
India's soccer federation has also postponed the inaugural professional league, originally scheduled to kickoff from Sept. 30, to help the national team prepare for their first round Asian qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup against Lebanon in October.
Former Asian Games champions, India are making a serious attempt to revive the national team after a prolonged slump.
Schedule for ONGC Nehru Cup International Football tournament:
Aug 17 India v Cambodia
Aug 18 Bangladesh v Syria
Aug 19 Kyrgyzstan v Cambodia
Aug 20 India v Bangladesh
Aug 21 Syria v Kyrgyzstan
Aug 22 Bangladesh v Cambodia
Aug 23 India v Syria
Aug 24 Bangladesh v Kyrgyzstan
Aug 25 Cambodia v Syria
Aug 26 India v Kyrgyzstan
Aug 29 Final.