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RAWALPINDI, April 12: The baseball’s Asia Cup which Pakistan were to host next year will now be held in Thailand, president of the Federation of Baseball and Softball Shoukat Javaid said Friday.
He told a press conference that because of the tension on the borders between Pakistan and India, the game’s governing body in Asia had decided to shift the tournament to Thailand.
Pakistan has, however, been assured of staging the event in 2005.
Shoukat said that once Pakistan host the Asia Cup, which serves as a qualifying tournament for the Asian Games, it would give the game a big boost here. “We have already been granted affiliation by the Pakistan Sports Board and now we can organise the sport really well.”
Speaking on the eve of the 11th National Championship that opens Saturday at Rawalpindi’s Army Cricket Ground, Shaukat pointed out that baseball in the country was gradually gaining popularity and Navy and Air Force have also taken up the sport.
“They will be taking part in the next national championship.”
The national meet this time, however, will be attended by seven teams with Army, who will be defending their crown, competing alongside Wapda, Police, NWFP, Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab. On the opening day, NWFP will be up against Punjab while Balochistan will take on Sindh.
APP ADDS: The three departmental outfits will play directly in the second round.
Pakistan Army, last year’s runners-up Wapda and Police will enter straight into the second round which begins April 16.
The four provincial sides will compete in the first round, beginning Saturday, and one team will advance to the second round.
Schedule (first round):
April 13: Punjab vs NWFP (9.30am), Balochistan vs Sindh (3.30pm).
April 14: Balochistan vs NWFP (9.30am), NWFP vs Sindh (3.30pm).
