KARACHI, Nov 8: Mayor of Canadian city of Surrey, Dianne Watts, has invited Pakistan women’s softball team for participation in the Canada Open International Beach Championship, to be held in Surrey in 2016.

Dianne accompanied Canadian softball officials to Cartagena, Colombia where they launched a bid to host the World Softball Championship during the International Softball Federations Congress.

Pakistan’s softball officials briefed her about sports promotion in Pakistan among both men and women.

She praised Pakistan’s softball officials for their efforts and invited the Pakistan women’s team to their country for the international tournament.

She said that there are many Pakistani expatriates in Surrey and they would be happy to see their team playing there and would support them.

Pakistan softball team’s head coach Asif Azeem thanked Dianne for inviting his team for the international tournament and said that Pakistani players need such exposure to lift their game.

“Pakistan women’s participation in international tournaments would make it stronger and hopefully they would be able to beat other top teams,” said Asif.

Asif also added that Pakistan softball technical officials also need to learn innovations and new rules in the game.

Softball Federation of Pakistan (SFP) Secretary Haider Khan Lehri said that the game of softball has been gaining popularity in Pakistan as SFP has been making great efforts to promote it among schools and colleges and improve its infrastructure.—PPI