KARACHI: Manager of the Pakistan basketball team former international Abdul Nasir has expressed optimism about the men’s and women’s outfits saying they are likely to finish on the podium in the 12th South Asian Games.

“Both the teams are in the fine nick and looking forward to winning laurels for the nation,” he told Dawn from Islamabad on Sunday on the eve of team’s departure to India.

He said the camp that was held at the Islamabad’s PSB sports complex concluded on Sunday.

The two teams that comprised 12 players and three officials apiece will fly to Delhi via Abu Dhabi on Monday evening. The squad will take a connecting flight from Delhi to Guwahati where the competition begins from Feb 11.

“The men’s team will compete in an international event after a long time while women will make their debut at the South Asian event,” the official added.

Nasir, who is also secretary of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Associations, said the teams have been trained well under their respective coaches during the camp and were in fine shape and in the same breath sounded confident that that they will deliver good results.

Team:

Men’s: Pervaiz Hussain, Asfandyar, Ahmed Jan, Mohammad Prem Shahzad, Mohammad Zohair Chohan, Mohammad Zahid Arif, Aqib Javid, Mohammad Atif, Abid Ali Ansari, Rashid Minhas, Naimatullah and Taghlab Ammar.

Officials: Abdul Nasir (manager), Agha Arshad Ali (coach), Mudassar Khan (assistant coach).

Women’s: Sana Mahmud, Kainat Zafar, Natasha Ali Khan, Hajra Khan, Mehru Khan, Syeda Amina Mukhtar, Wajahia Abid, Samia Haider, Sehrish, Masooma Ijaz, Pameela Sherazia and Zara Ahmed Khan.

Officials: Mrs Zareena Jamal (manager), Nawazish Ali (head coach), Naveed Ahmed (coach).

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2016