13th West Asia Baseball Cup starts from today at Islamabad. 200 players and officials from six countries participating in the event.
By.Asghar Ali Mubarak
Islamabad-Over 200 players and officials from six countries are participating in the 13th West Asia Baseball Cup starts from today Feb 25 to March 1 at Islamabad.This was stated by Syed Khawar Shah, president of Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB), addressing to media at PSB Media center Islamabad. Syed Khawar Shah, president of Pakistan Federation Baseball said that India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal and Sri Lanka had confirmed their participation in the event to the Baseball Federation of Asia (BFA). Pakistan is the defending champions of the West Asia Baseball Cup; expect to face tough fight from Iran and Sri Lanka who are considered strong teams. Khawar appreciated the help the PFB was receiving from Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Riaz Hussain Pirzada and director general of the Pakistan Sports Board Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera in staging the West Asia Baseball Cup. Khawar said that India would definitely fulfill the commitment to take part in the event because its participation had been confirmed through the BFA.“The federal government He was full of praise for the IPC Minister and PSB Director General for frequently visiting newly-prepared baseball ground, where the championship would take place. “I am grateful to IPC minister and PSB DG for helping us in conducting two-month long training camp of Pakistan baseball team and also providing us free of cost accommodation, meal and world class arrangements. Making strict security arrangements, accommodation and food to the participating teams for the West Asia Baseball Cup,” said Khawar .He said that the minister of IPC will be the chief guest on opening day. the minister of IPC also ready to help the federation to host the first league in Islamabad in which top players from foreign countries would also compete, on the pattern of the PSL.The Pakistani team Players who attended the training camp in Islamabad are Umair Imdad, Sumair Zawar, Waqas Ismail, Adnan Butt, Ali, Zubair Nawaz, Syed Dur-i-Hussain, Fazal-ur-Rehman, Abu Bakr Virk, Arshad Khan, Attique, Tahir Mahmood, Abdul Rehman, Zakir Afridi, Ameen Afridi, Inayatullah, Tauseef, Ihsanullah, Faqeer Hussain, Arsalan Jamshaid, Ubaidullah, Riaz, Latif, Jawad Ali, Mohammad Zohaib, Mohammad Usama, Mohsin Jamil, Umar Farooq, Rafi, Saddam Hussain, Nauman Zulfiqar, Hamza Moazzam, Majeed, Rizwan, Wali Khan, Abdullah, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Usman, Tariq Nadeem, Kashif Iftikhar, Atif, Arif, Mohammad Waseem, Mushtaq Hussain.Officials: Syed Fakhar Ali Shah (manager), Rana Tanveer (assistant manager), Mussadiq Hanif (head coach), Sarfraz Ahmed, Basit Murtaza (coaches); Mohammad Ramzan (camp commandant).He disclosed that the Pakistan Federation Baseball has decided to hold the 14th National Women Baseball Championship will also be played in the first week of May 2017 in Islamabad while the Pakistan women baseball team will also participate in the Asian championship in 2017.He said that 14th National Women Baseball Championship would be held in the first week of May in Islamabad while the Pakistani women baseball team would also participate in the Asian Championship .Pakistan Federation Baseball (PFB) President Syed Khawar Shah said that Pakistan had won the previous three West Asia Cups and in the current event, Pakistan would be defending the title.He said, “Besides Pakistan, teams from India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal and Sri Lanka will be participating in the mega event. “Pakistan Federation of Baseball (PFB) president Syed Khawar Shah requested Pakistani High Commission (PHC) to issue visas to Indian baseball team, which is arriving to feature in the 13th West Asian Baseball Cup 2017, commencing from February 25 here at Pakistan Sports Complex.He said the Indians arrival meant a lot to Pakistan and neighboring countries, while it would also send a very clear message to all that Pakistan is capable of hosting international events. “The arrival of Indian baseball team will certainly reduce the tension between the two countries and bring their people and players closer to each other. I request the Interior Minister and Prime Minister to look into this matter and resolve it.“It will be a great set back to peace efforts and prove to be a body blow, if the Indian team fails to arrive due to non-issuance of visas. They are waiting in New Delhi to get visas and willing to come and play here. I am hopeful the timely intervention of the Interior Minister can resolve the issue and Indian team will arrive by today evening and participate in grand opening ceremony to be held today (Saturday) at 10am, where IPC Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada will be chief guest,” he added. Meanwhile Welcoming Pakistan’s plans to expand the development of baseball, World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) president said this high-level collaboration will boost game’s positioning in this high-potential region. Pakistan will be the focus of the upcoming XIII West Asia Baseball Cup 2017, as the nation welcomes the National Teams of India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, and Sri Lanka to the Pakistan Sports Complex in Islamabad from 25 February to 1 March. A 22-member baseball team, including 16 players, on Tuesday left for Pakistan to take part in the 13th West Asia Baseball Cup slated to be held from February 25 to March 1 in Islamabad.
