The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has said that Bangladesh would be the sole host of the inaugural edition of the AFC Challenge Cup, due to the current unrest in Nepal.

According to information posted at the AFC website, Monday’s meeting of the AFC Challenge Cup and AFC President’s Cup Organising Committee took the decision in this regard.

Earlier, it was declared that the tournament will be held in Nepal and Bangladesh.

The dates of the competition were also amended from 25th March to 7th April 2006, to 1st April to 16th April 2006, in order not to clash with the Independence Day activities on 26th March in Bangladesh.

The AFC Challenge Cup, which provides an international competition platform for sixteen teams from the emerging and developing countries, will be played in two venues of Bangladesh, Dhaka and Chittagong.

The officials of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) are yet to comment on the issue.