KARACHI, Oct 29: The Pakistan Amateur Basketball Federation (PABBF) ad hoc committee has extended invitations to three foreign teams to visit Pakistan in the first quarter of next year to feature in a quadrangular tournament planned at Islamabad.

The foreign countries to whom invitations have been sent are Tajikistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Host Pakistan would be the fourth team in the competition, secretary PABBF ad hoc committee, Lt. Col Naseem Butt said on Saturday.

The hosting of the tournament in Feb-March next would depend on the availability of the foreign teams.

He disclosed that two alternate arrangements have also been chalked out in case the foreign teams were not available at one time for the competition.

The PABBF would either conduct an international series of three matches at Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi in case any of the above foreign team shows its willingness to visit Pakistan or arrange exhibition matches between Pakistan X1 and rest X1 in the three cities.

The step, he said, is being taken to revive the game in the country which has gone down the ladder in the last one decade.

Pakistan was placed 15th among 18 nations at the Islamic games in Saudi Arabia. The new-look outfit won three and lost five matches.

Pakistan has also not featured in the prestigious Asian Basketball Championship for more then a decade.

He said basketball was not included in the next year’s SAF games.

The PSB imposed ad hoc committee after dissolving two warring factions five years back.

Meanwhile, the PABBF ad hoc committee has distributed goods worth Rs. one million among the affectees of the earthquake at Balakot and adjoining areas.

Secretary ad hoc committee, Lt. Col Naseem Butt said on Saturday that accompanied by the president Punjab Basketball Association, Faisal Sheikh, he visited some of the areas hit by the massive earthquake to distribute goods.

The relief goods include blankets, tents, mineral water, medicine, dates and juices.