You are currently viewing West Asian Baseball: Pakistan beats Iran to qualify for Semi-Final
baseball 2

West Asian Baseball: Pakistan beats Iran to qualify for Semi-Final

WANIA ATHER

ISLAMABAD: Five times defending champion Pakistan qualified for semi-final battle against Iran after defeating Iraq on Monday at Pakistan Sports Complex here.

Nepal, Sri Lanka and Iran have already booked their spots for semi-final.

Pakistan nudged closer to defending the title beating Iraq by clean 25-0 points in 13th edition of West Asian Baseball.

Arsalan Jamshed and Faqir Hussain scored four runs each. Captain Sumair Zawar along with Amin Afridi, Riaz Khan and Wasim Ali contributed three runs apiece.

Umair Bhatti and Muhammad Majeed added two runs while Fazal Khan managed to score one run.

Central fielder Muhammad Rafi displayed full confidence over the ability to retain the title: “We have a decent team and it’s all about how we coordinate among ourselves.

“We have been the top side till now and we are confident that we will be able to defend this crown”

Second match of semi-final clash will be played today between Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Pakistani Baseball team – that has been winning Western Division Championship for the last three years – is ranked 24th in the world and fifth in Asia.

Pakistan is aiming to secure their place in 2020 Olympic qualifier in Thailand.

 

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.