LAHORE, March 27: South Korean baseball coach Kihong Kim on Monday started training of the Pakistan team, which is to compete in the Asia Cup qualifying round to be held at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi, from April 20 to 26.

The coach arrived in Lahore on Sunday night. Kim was sent by the South Korean Baseball Federation for one month training at the request of Baseball Federation of Pakistan.

The camp is already in progress at the Iqbal Park Sports Complex since March 15.

Kim said that Pakistan had talented players and with more hard work and better facilities a well balanced team could be raised.

He said Thailand and Hong Kong would be tough teams for Pakistan in the seven-nation contest.

Besides Pakistan, Thailand and Hong Kong, the other teams participating are India, Mongolia, Iran and Sri Lanka.

He said Pakistan showed remarkable progress in the game since the last four years as it now ranked 5th in the Asia region.

Twenty-five probables are attending the camp. A final team is likely to be announced on April 15.