KARACHI: Pakistan’s talented softball coaches Zeeshan Merchant, Adil Zaman, Shiraz Asif and Mohammad Abbas returned home after featuring in a high-profile training course held in Narita, in Japan recently which was organised by Softball Confederation of Asia (SCA).

“It is the first time in the game’s history that Pakistani coaches and junior players attended a training course outside the country. It will hopefully prove very beneficial for Pakistan and all of us,” said Zeeshan Merchant upon his return home. “Attending training sessions with highly qualified international coaches have proved very enriching for us,” Merchant added.

Softball Federation of Pakistan (SFP) secretary Asif Azeem, Mohammad Nasir, Imran Zaman, Murad Hussain, Faraz Ijaz and other SFP officials received the coaches at the airport.

Emerging softball player Shiraz Asif, said that Japan Softball Association’s chairman coaching committee Hiroshi Yajima worked diligently with the participants during the course. “The participants were taught about softball history, preparing playfield, rules, regulations and also umpiring rules and other important details through multimedia presentations. We were also told about modern techniques while also showing video clips.

“Meanwhile at the ground, apart from teaching physical training, we were also coached about ball pitching, catching and batting. I believe the training we receive will prove very beneficial for us,” said Shiraz. Another coach Adil said: “If we have the same infrastructure here as Japan has, and our coaches and players attend training courses conducted by World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) and SCA, then I believe our teams will also be among top performers in the international arena.”

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2018