OFFICIALS of teams representing Pakistan and India in the AFL International Cup hope a match between the two will help an ongoing push to ease historic tensions.

The Pakistan Shaheens and the India Bombers will meet on Friday night in Bendigo, north-west of Melbourne, with the Dosti Cup up for grabs. Dosti is the Urdu and Hindi word for friendship.

According to Kashif Bouns, founder of the North Melbourne-based Shaheens Sporting and Social Club, the teams wanted to do away with negative connotations and celebrate their cultural similarities.

"The Dosti Cup is about changing the narrative between our countries. There's a lot of tension between India and Pakistan, and despite cultural similarities, they're very different politically," said Bouns, general manager of the Western Bulldogs' community foundation.

"AFL is a new sport for both countries, and so we wanted to do away with the tension of the past and use this as a fresh start with a positive narrative.

"It's about leaving the competition between teams on the field, and using it as an opportunity to celebrate our cultures and build bridges between our communities," he said.

The teams first played for the Dosti Cup in 2014 when Pakistan made its AFL International Cup debut. Although Pakistan dominated, Bouns said the 2014 game marked a successful beginning to a new era for the countries and their sporting histories.

"We wanted the game to promote friendship and we think we did that. They celebrated, laughed and danced together," he said.

"The game brought together the two communities and proved that off the sporting field, we are the same people."

AFL INTERNATIONAL CUP COMMUNITY ROUND 

Friday, August 11

7pm: South Africa v Fiji                   
St Mary's, Anthony Costa Oval, Kilgour Street, South Geelong

7.30pm: India v Pakistan                                  
Golden Square, Wade Street, Bendigo

Saturday, August 12

10am: France v Nauru                                   
Victoria Park, 636 High Street, Kew

12pm: USA v Papua New Guinea                 
Montrose Recreation Reserve, Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Montrose

12pm: Indonesia v China                              
Diggers Rest Recreation Reserve, Plumpton Road, Diggers Rest

12pm: Sri Lanka v Croatia                            
Marriott Waters Reserve, Boland Drive, Lyndhurst

12.30pm: Canada v New Zealand                      
Waverley Blues FC, Charles Street, Mount Waverley

12.30pm: Great Britain v Ireland                       
Koornang Park, Cnr Koornang Rd and Munro Ave, Carnegie

2pm: Japan v Germany                               
Elgar Park, 653-661 Elgar Road, Mont Albert North

Sunday, August 13 (women's competition)

12pm: Canada v Great Britain                      
Plenty War Memorial Park, Diamond Creek

12pm: Fiji v Pakistan                                        
Mulgrave Reserve, 140 Garnett Road, Wheelers Hill

12pm: USA v European Crusaders                
University Oval, Melbourne University, Parkville 

2pm: Ireland v Papua New Guinea             
Hallam Reserve, Frawley Road, Hallam