Armenian outfit Ararat and Kazakhstan’s Aktobe complete this group.

Bunyodkor, who won the Uzbekistan league and cup titles this season, were supposed to represent their country in this competition but possibility of their participation in the 1st Channel Cup in Israel has given Pakhtakor a chance to regain the title they won in 2007.

Turkmenistan champions Ashgabat are in Group B alongside Belarus’ MTZ-RIPO, Lithuania’s Ekranas and the Russian U-21 team.

AFC President’s Cup winners Tajikistan’s Regar-TadAZ were drawn in Group C with Ukraine’s Shakhtar, Moldova’s Sherif and Estonian outfit Levadia while Kyrgyzstan’s Dordoi-Dynamo have been placed in Group D along with Inter (Azerbaijan), Ventspils (Latvia) and Inter (Finland).