LAHORE: Pakistan have qualified for the baseball event of the 2022 Asian Games scheduled to be held from Sept 18-22 in Hangzhou, China.

Pakistan Federation Baseball president Syed Fakhar Ali Shah said Pakistan would be among the 12 baseball teams which will participate in the 19th edition of the Asian gala.

The countries that will feature in the baseball event in Hangzhou include Japan (world No. 1), Korea (No. 2), Taiwan (No. 3), China (4), Pakistan (5), Hong Kong (6), Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia and Laos.

Fakhar said Pakistan also featured in the last Asian Games held in Jakarta with a beleaguered team as the Pakistan Sports Board sent only 16 players instead of a full 24-member squad.

In Asia, he added, Pakistan were at fifth place while world’s top countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China were also standing tall.

“Though there is not a single regular baseball ground available in Pakistan still our players have earned a good standing at Asian and world levels,” Fakhar remarked.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2021