MUMBAI: Sporting rivalry between India and Pakistan is set to go beyond just cricket.

AXN's first major ground event for the year also promises to be its biggest. This year, the action oriented broadcaster will up the ante by making participants from the arch rivals compete in the AXN Xtreme: India vs Pakistan challenge.

AXN Xtreme is based on an innovative reality programming concept. This will require the chosen teams to prevail in extreme situations and conditions. Needless to say, the challenges will take the word 'extreme' to another level.

The qualification rounds for the event are scheduled to take place this August in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore and Karachi. Four finalists from each country will be selected to represent their respective nations.

More details about the qualifying events, eligibility criteria and how to qualify for the event will be revealed in a few weeks. Selected finalists will face off in a series of challenges to be held in an undisclosed East Asian country.

The challenges may be held both indoor and outdoor. The event will air later this year.

The event will include a multitude of elements like popular sports and dreaded fears. It will not only pit man against man but also man against nature.

AXN marketing and creative services VP, Gregory Ho added, "Courage, competitive spirit and the passion to win, willingness to try new things and teamwork are just some of the characteristics that hopefuls must display if they want to be selected for the finals of AXN Xtreme: India vs Pakistan.

"As in similar action-adventure events which have been organised by AXN previously, the challenges are revealed to the participants only on the day of the event. The aim is to retain the element of surprise, to stimulate creativity in limited conditions and most importantly, to have a level playing field where none of the teams are disadvantaged prior to the start of the event."