Indian football asks for bailout from cricket board

New Delhi: The country's cash-starved soccer body has held out a begging bowl to the affluent cricket board, seeking funds to support the national side's preparations for the 2011 Asian Cup finals in Qatar.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has requested a one-time assistance for its "Goal 2011" project and the cricket board is likely to give 100 million rupees ($ 2.1 million), the Telegraph newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The AIFF plans to keep 25 players exclusively on national duty from nine months before the tournament, seen as vital to lifting the fortunes of the team ranked 147 in the world.