Hero Indian Super League (ISL) outfit ATK Mohun Bagan have been drawn with Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings, Maldivian club Maziya S&RC and the winner of the playoff round in Group D (South Zone) of the AFC Cup 2021 following the conclusion of the group stage draw in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Wednesday.

ATK Mohun Bagan secured a spot in the continental competition after their merger with the 2019-20 Hero I-League champions Mohun Bagan. The merger also resulted in the qualifying preliminary round two slot that was kept for last season’ Hero ISL champions ATK going to Bengaluru FC as they finished third in Hero ISL 2019-20.

Bengaluru, meanwhile, will face the winner of the qualifying playoff preliminary round one clash featuring Nepal Army Club and Sri Lanka Police in the preliminary round two. The other preliminary round two clash will see Bangladesh’s Abahani Dhaka take on the winner of Maldives' Club Eagles and Bhutan's Thimphu City. Both matches are slated to take place on April 14.

The winners of the preliminary round two will then square off in a playoff clash and the winner of that encounter will join the other three clubs in Group D.

This year all AFC club competitions will be held in a centralised venue. The group stage matches of the AFC Cup South Zone which is Group D will begin on May 14.